* 

PRINCETON,  N.  J.          ^> 

Shelf.... 

BV  4501  .G55  1865 
Gilroy,  Clinton  G. 
Inner  life;  or.  The  joys  of 
my  Father's  house,  designe 

■J::: 


'4^ 


</ 


TESTIMONIALS. 


The  late  Hon.  Theodore  Frelinghuysen,  President  of  the  American 
Bible  Society,  and  Chancellor  of  the  University  of  New  York,  in  a 
letter  to  the  author  of  "  The  Inner  Life,  or  the  Joys  of  my  Father's 
House,"  says : — 

"  I  duly  received  the  manuscript  of  your  work  on  the  Inner 
Life,  and  have  given  it  as  much  attention  as  other  pressing 
duties  allowed  me.  And  having  found  it  pure  and  Scriptural 
in  its  moral  and  religious  contents,  I  cheerfully  recommend  it 
as  a  work  calculated,  through  the  blessing  of  God,  to  do  much 
good.  The  selections  of  Scripture,  in  my  judgment,  are  judi- 
ciously made;  and  the  appropriate  application  of  them  in 
your  work,  with  its  excellent  spirit,  cannot  be  otherwise  than 
useful.  Your  volume  will  be  a  valuable  help  to  all  who  seek 
the  wisdom  of  which  the  Bible  is  the  sure  revelation. 

"THEO.   FRELINGHUYSEN. 

"New  Brunswick,  Dec.  5,  1860." 

Mr.  Frelinghuysen  was  one  of  the  most  deeply  pious  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  America.  No  man  was  more  highly  e.-i^teemed 
by  the  religious  world  in  general.  His  memory  will  ever  be  cherished 
by  all  evangelical  Christians. 

The  Rev.  Bishop  M.  Simpson,  D.D.,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  says  :■ — 

"  I  have  perused  with  some  care  the  proof  sheets  of  *  The 
Inner  Life ;  or,  the  Joys  of  my  Father's  House,'  and  cordially 


^  TESTIMONIALS. 

commend  it  to  the  religious  public.  I  am  much  pleased  with 
its  pure,  evangelical  sentiment,  its  copious  illustrations,  and 
its  easy  style.  It  is  calculated  to  aid  the  thoughtful  reader  in 
his  efforts  to  attain  a  higher  life;  and  I  have  no  doubt  its  gene- 
ral circulation  will  do  much  good. 

"M.  SIMPSON." 

"Philadelphia,  July  25,  1864." 

The  Rev.  P.  S.  Ilenson,  Pastor  of  the  Broad  Street  Baptist  Church, 
says : — 

"  I  have  read  with  no  little  interest  and  profit  the  proof- 
sheets  of  'The  Inner  Life,  or  the  Joys  of  my  Father's 
House.'  It  is  eminently  evangelical  in  its  tone,  and  catholic 
in  its  spirit.  Its  materials  seem  to  be  drawn  from  the  trea- 
sury of  a  ripe  and  varied  Christian  experience.  Believing  as 
I  do  that  a  perusal  of  the  book  will  be  calculated  to  quicken 
the  pulses  of  that  Inner  life  of  which  it  treats,  I  sincerely 
hope  it  may  find  its  way  to  many  homes  and  hearts. 

"P.   S.   IIENSON. 
"Philadelphia,  Oct.  1,  1864." 

The  Ptev.  Charles  P.  Krauth,  D.D.,  Professor  of  Systematic  The- 
olo^'y  in  the  Theological  Seminary  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church,  at  Philadelphia,  and  Editor  of  "The  Lutheran  and  Mis- 
sionary," says : — 

"  The  '  Inner  Life'  strikes  us  as  the  work  of  a  thoughtful 
Christian,  thoroughly  read  in  the  Bible  and  largely  familiar 
with  the  best  practical  and  devotional  literature.  It  is  evan- 
gelical to  the  core,  earnest  in  its  spirit,  and  well  adapted  to 
promote  the  growth  of  the  Christian  life.  It  presents  the  heart 
of  religion  as  distinct  from  the  technicalities  of  abstra(;t  theo- 
logy, and  will  profit  and  interest  every  reader.  It  is  specially 
rich  in  the  treasures  of  Christian   experience  and  of  sacred 

song. 

"  CHARLES  P.  KRAUTII. 

"  Philadelphia,  May  11,  1805." 


TESTIMONIALS  o 

Tlie  Rev.  Kingston  Goddavd,  D.  D.,  Pastor  of  St.  P:iurs  Protest- 
ant Episcopal  Church,  speaking  of  "  The  Inner  Life,  or  the  Joy.s 
of  my  Father's  House,"  says:  — 

'•The  value  of  such  works  of  pnictical  experience  as 
the  '  Inner  Life'  is  that  they  present  to  the  Christian  the  in- 
ward influences  of  'the  Truth'  in  the  heart.  Mere  acquaint- 
ance with  Bible  truth  may  be  acquired  and  yet  none  of  its 
power  felt.  To  possess  it  is  only  like  standing  in  the  broad 
and  bright  sunshine  of  mid-day.  But  when  that  Truth  is 
presented  as  it  is  in  this  earnest  and  loving  work,  it  is  as 
if  we  walked  amidst  all  tlie  rich  scenery  of  earth  beside  its 
streams  and  rivers,  that  the  sun  had  warmed  into  existence 
and  decked  with  brilliancy  and  beauty.  Most  earnestly  do 
we  recommend  this  book  to  the  perusal  of  the  devout 
Christian  ;  and  heartily  we  hail  it  as  a  valuable  addition  to 

our  sacred  literature. 

"KINGSTON  GODDARD, 

"St.  Paul's  Ch.  (P.  E.  C.) 

"Philadelphia" 

Another  eminent  minister  of  Christ,  the  Rev.  J,  II.  A.  Bomberger 
D.D.,  Pastor  of  First  German  Reformed  Church,  Race  Street,  says : — 

"  No  better  testimony  can  be  borne  to  the  real  worth  of  a 

book,  than  that  its  perusal  has  been  found  truly  instructive 

and  edifying,  and  that  the  reading  of  several  chapters  of  it 

causes  regret  that  there  is  neither  time  nor  opportunity,  at 

present,  for  going  through  the  whole  of  it.     This  testimony 

I  can  sincerely  ofFer  in  favor  of  the  '  Inner  Life.'     It  is  a  good 

book  in  the  highest  sense  of  the  term,  and  cannot  fail  to  prove 

welcome  and   profitable  to  all  who  read  it  with   sober  and 

devout  minds. 

"  J.  II.  A.  BOMBERGER. 

"  PniLADELPniA,  May  12,  1865," 


THE  INNER  LIFE; 


ou, 


THE  JOYS  OF  MY  FATHERS  HOUSE. 


DESIGNED  TO 


ASSIST  THE  SEEKER,  STRENGTHEN  THE  WAVERING, 

AND  COMFORT  THE  AFFLICTED  AND 

THE  BEREAVED. 


BY 

A  WAYFARING  MA,N. 


■J 


"  After  a  short  pause,  he  began  with  a  voice  that  would  have  allayed  the  anguish 
of  death,  and  charmed  the  wildest  discord  into  calm  attention  :  every  accent  breathed 
celestial  love  and  harmony,  while  he  described  the  joys  of  his  '  Father's  house.'  Every 
word  was  penetrating.    In  his  descriptions,  I  saw  tlie  glories,  I  felt  the  joys,  of  heaven." 


PHILADELPHIA : 
PRINTED    1  OR    THE    AUTHOR 

BY    SHERMAN    &    CO. 

1SG6. 


Entered,  accordiug  to  Act  of  Con!j;ress,  in  the  year  1SG5,  by 
WM.  II.  STARR, 

in  the  Clork's  OfTifu  of  the  District  Court  of  tlie  United  States  for  the  Pi.strict  of 
Connocticnt. 


INTRODUCTION, 


There  is  not  enough  of  anything  good  in  tlie 
world,  Avhich  depends  on  man,  not  enough  even 
of  tliose  good  things  of  which  it  is  asserted  most 
frequently,  that  there  is  too  much.  Books  are 
plenty,  good  hooks  are  few,  and  among  the  classes 
of  the  few  good  books  none  are  more  rare  than 
those  which  are  thoroughly  adapted  to  the  experi- 
mental life  of  the  Christian.  Eeligious  books, 
written  in  the  course  of  professional  life,  and 
printed  simply  because  they  have  been  written, — 
books  prepared  for  the  benefit  of  the  author,  or 
of  the  publisher,  not  for  the  benefit  of  the  reader, 
— are  common  enough.  Smooth  and  graceful  in 
style  and  rich  in  thought  such  works  may  be,  but 
as  they  do  not  come  from  the  heart  they  do  not 
go  to  the  heart,  they  simply  swell  the  number  of 
books  already  too  large,  books  wrought  out  in  no 
genuine  experience,  and  addressed  to  no  specific 
want,  and  incapable  of  moving  the  affections  of 
men,  a  result  without  which  their  judgments  are 
enliofhtened  in  vain. 


8  IXTRODUCTIOX, 

The  volume  which  now  lies  before  the  reader 
claims  a  moment  from  him,  on  the  ground  that  it 
is  no  bookseller's  nor  book-writer's  manufacture, 
but  a  true  growth,  an  humble  but  genuine  growth 
out  of  a  life  kindled  by  the  Saviour  and  hidden 
with  him  in  God.  It  is  offered  to  God  and  to  His 
Children,  as  the  witness  of  a  heart  which  was  led 
through  sore  conflicts  to  precious  experiences,  out 
of  the  darkness  not  alone  of  nature,  but  of  a  se- 
ductive and  delusive  system  of  theology,  to  a 
knowledge  of  the  truth  of  God  iu  his  Word,  and 
of  the  God  of  truth  in  his  only-begotten  Son, 
through  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  illuminer  and  Com- 
forter. Its  author  asks  a  hearing,  not  because  of 
the  earthly  wisdom  or  human  eloquence  for  which 
the  natural  heart  seeks,  but  because  he  speaks 
w^hat  it  is  his  joy,  in  common  with  all  that  are  in 
Christ  Jesus,  to  know,  and  testifies,  in  the  fellow- 
sliip  of  all  who  are  led  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  what 
he  has  seen. 

This  volume  may  be  made  a  hand-book  for  the 
Pilgrim  who  turns  his  face  Zionward,  not  indeed 
as  a  substitute  for  God's  own  Guide-book,  but  as 
a  simple  Manual,  in  which  is  arranged  what  that 
great  and  exhaustless  Book  furnishes  for  the  way. 
With  this  testimony  of  God's  inspired  servants  is 
connected,  in  these  pages,  the  record  in  which  the 


INTIIODUCTION,  'J 

i^::'.ii!s  of  many  lands,  and  the  "wayfaring  man" 
Ijiniself,  set  their  seal  to  God's  eyer-ahiding  trnth. 
The  Bible,  the  hfe  and  testimony  of  Bible  Chris- 
tians, the  sweet  and  heayenly  strains  of  holy  men 
and  women  who  drew  their  inspiration  from  the 
Bible,  these  will  be  found  grouped  together  here 
in  all  the  artless  feryor  of  a  soul  which  desires  to 
know  nothing  among  men,  but  "Jesus  Christ  and 
him  crucified."  It  is  a  book  in  which  tlie  yearn- 
ing heart  of  seeker  and  saint  will  find  a  yoice  for 
its  longings,  in  which  the  mourning  and  the  re- 
joicing will  find  words  of  comfort  and  of  exulta- 
tion. It  has  an  extraordinary  air  of  reality,  as  if 
the  inyisible  were  visible,  as  if  the  glory  to  be  re- 
vealed were  a  present  thing  grasped  in  living  faith. 
The  man  who  has  no  religion,  or  who  imagines 
that  religion  is  all  summed  up  in  frigid  speculation, 
may  not  comprehend  the  fire  of  devotion  which 
glows  in  these  pages,  and  yet  he  must  be  cold  in- 
deed, if  he  can  peruse  them  without  feeling  some- 
thing of  their  own  ardent  life  and  aspiration. 

But  this  little  volume  is  not  merely  devotional; 
it  is  eminently  practical.  It  unfolds  duty  as  well 
as  privilege,  duty  in  the  closet,  and  duty  in  the 
family  circle.  It  is  especially  a  book  for  the 
family.  The  Chapters  on  "  Obedience  to  Parents" 
are  peculiarly  comprehensive  and  forcible.     The 


10  INTRODUCTION. 

family  which  is  so  happy  as  to  take  its  shape 
under  the  influence  of  those  Chapters  will  never 
cease,  no,  not  to  eternity,  to  thank  God  that  this 
book  was  hrouglit  within  it. 

This  book  is  also  rich  in  consolation.  The 
.  ever-touching  theme  of  "Family  Bereavements" 
is  handled  with  a  tenderness  which  would  have 
,  been  impossible  on  the  part  of  one  who  had  not 
tasted  very  deeply  of  the  bitter  cup,  and  very 
deeply  of  the  consolations  which  a  Saviour's  love 
mingles  with  it.  As  the  author  approaches  the 
termination  of  his  work,  the  heavenly  home  as- 
sumes to  him  an  increasing  vividness ;  he  rises  and 
carries  the  reader  with  him,  within  the  veil.  He 
gathers  a  cloud  of  witnesses  around  the  saint's 
dying  hour,  and  central  among  them  all  stands 
the  faithful  and  true  Witness,  "The  Author  and 
finisher  of  our  faith,"  the  adorable  and  loving 
Saviour.  To  that  Saviour  this  book  is  an  offering 
of  love  and  gratitude ;  and  all  who  love  him,  and 
all  who  wish  to  love  him,  will  find  pure  delight 
and  an  abiding  blessing  in  an  earnest,  repeated, 
and  prayerful  perusal  of  it. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   I. 

ADVENT  OF  THE  ONE  ALTOGETHER  LOVELY. 

His  amazing  love — No  room  in  tlie  Inn  foi*  "poor"  people — 
Born  in  a  Stable — What  the  Angels  did — His  temptations  and  suf- 
ferings— His  transfiguration — He  weeps  over  a  rebellious  people — 
His  groans  and  tears  at  the  grave  of  Lazarus — What  all  the  riches 
of  the  world  could  not  purchase — He  is  forsaken  by  all  his  friends 
— His  sorrows — The  powers  of  darkness  assail  him — He  prays  the 
more  earnestly — Sweats  great  drops  of  blood — What  his  tor- 
mentors and  murderers  said  and  did — The  amazing  riches  and 
glory  of  the  Christian — Eternal  misery  of  all  who  refuse  or  neglect 
to  come  to  Christ — The  battle  for  souls  betwixt  the  Armies  of  the 
Cross  and  Satan  and  his  hosts — Earth  a  near  door-neighbor  to 
Heaven — Time  has  no  duration  in  the  reckoning  of  God — The 
speed  of  Angels — Christ  ever  present  with  the  Christian  in  his 
public  and  private  devotions — Infinite  wisdom,  power,  and  conde- 
scension of  God Page  17 

CHAPTER   II. 

THE    LOVE    THAT    PASSETH    KNOWLEDGE. 

The  love  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory — What  the  sweet  singer 
of  Israel  said  of  it — What  St.  .John  heard — Effect  of  a  mother's 
prayers,   and  of  preaching  Christ  and   him   crucified — Amazing 

(xi) 


Xll  CONTENTS. 

effects  of  pardon — Why  these  raptures  are  allowed  new  converts — 
The  proofs  of  true  conversion — Who  are  true  Christians,  and  who 
mere  professors  or  "reprobates" — The  conversion  of  William 
Cowper,  and  others — Heart-cheering  experiences — The  beacon- 
light  of  their  Father's  house  in  full  view — Sounds  like  "foolish- 
ness" to  men  of  the  world — "Divers  operations,  but  the  same 
God" — No  two  leaves  upon  a  tree  alike — The  cases  of  Lazarus, 
Zaccheus,  and  Mai-y  Magdalene — What  Mary's  tears  and  love  had 
won — Love  and  sorrow — Earth's  night  of  weeping  will  soon  sparkle 
in  eternal  sunbeams — Christ  always  uppermost  in  the  thoughts  of 
his  people — They  cling  to  the  Cross  like  the  ivy  to  the  tree 35 


CHAPTER   III. 

THE    WARFARE. 

What  God  does  to  the  true  members  of  his  Church — The  true 
nature  of  the  Christian  warfare — The  devices  of  Satan — His  onsets 
constant — Leave  no  unguarded  place — What  the  Christian  mu.?t 
expect  and  do — No  cross  no  crown — The  hidden  designs  of  God — 
The  rod — Words  of  cheer  for  sinking  hekrts — The  morning  with- 
out clouds — The  everlasting  hills  of  glory  appear — The  spirit  of 
God  sounds  a  string  here  and  there — Conflicts  and  trials — The 
way  God  teaches  and  trains  his  children — Fearful  consequences 
of  counteracting  His  afflictive  dispensations — Frightful  suflFerings 
and  deaths  of  the  most  precious  and  lovely  of  God's  children — 
Dreadful  end  of  the  wicked — Steadfastness  of  the  saints  of  old — 
Why  the  Christian's  course  is  not  strewed  with  flowers  and  sun- 
beams   55 


CHAPTER   lY. 

BATTLES    FOUGHT    AND    VICTORIES    WON. 

The  aged  Soldier  of  the  Cross — The  smile  upon  his  wasted 
cheek — His  prospects  of  eternal  happiness  clear  and  glorious — 
The  wilderness  passed — His  Father's  house  in  full  view — Happy 
deaths — The  glories  of  Immanuel's  land — The  unspeakable  hap- 


CONTEXTS.  Xlll 

piness  of  the  cliiklvcn  of  God — What  the  martyrs  did  in  their  last 
moments — Transporting  views  of  the  heavenly  world — The  minis- 
try of  Angels — Delightful  death-bed  scenes — Fearful  condition  of 
wicked  men  in  a  dying  hour — Happy  death  of  a  Sunday-school 
scholar — His  last  words  to  his  parents  and  sister — His  "  farewell" 
to  each — Sees  his  Saviour — Angels  around  his  bed — Hears  de- 
lightful music — Longs  to  die — The  smile  of  Heaven  overspreads 
his  countenance — His  last  word  to  his  mother — Looks  up  to 
Heaven,  smiles,  and  expires  in  his  father's  arms 81 


CHAPTER   y. 

PRAYER. 

Prayer  the  life-breath  of  true  religion — AVhat  God  says  of 
prayer — Dreadful  condition  of  the  prayerless  man — What  the 
saints  of  old  did — No  excuse  will  be  taken — The  prayers  of  Dav+d 
and  Daniel — Places  of  prayer — What  prayer  did  for  Joshua, 
Elijah,  Hezekiah,  and  other  men  of  God — Amazing  power  of 
faithful  prayer — Faith  :  definitions  of  it — Wrestling  with  God  in 
prayer — Jacob's  prayer — Praying  "  with  strong  crying  and  tears" 
— A  dying  father's  last  prayer  for  his  daughter — Tears — The  Lord 
despises  all  human  strength  in  prayer — The  proud  praying  lions 
flung  aside  to  rot — "When  I  am  weak,  then  am  I  strong" — Family 
worship — Dutiful  children  blessed — A  dying  father's  last  gift  to 
his  daughter — Its  immense  value — What  God  has  promised  to  do 
for  all  who  truly  love  him 103 


CHAPTER   YI. 

PRAYER,     CONTINUED. 

The  Bible — Its  amazing  value — What  David  and  Daniel  thought 
of  it — What  the  veterans  of  the  Cross  say — Dr.  Arnold's  remarks 
—  ''Praying  with  all  prayer"  hateful  to  the  Devil — His  devices — 
The  weapons  he  uses — What  the  Christian  must  do — How  to  dis- 
tinguish the  true  disciples  of  Christ  from  mere  professors  or 
"reprobates" — Sweet  hour  of  prayer — Prayer  within  the  reach  of 
2 


XIV  CONTENTS. 

all — Ignorance  or  want  of  education  no  excuse — What  every  true 
soldier  of  Christ  does — What  David  said  of  "filthy  rags"  or  self- 
righteousness — The  power  of  Satan — His  depths — His  perfidious 
crvielty — Tries  to  delude,  degrade,  and  ruin  the  Christian — His 
lying  and  detestable  character — His  last  resource  to  destroy  the 
Christian — The  warnings  of  the  fathers  against  his  deceptions — 
What  provokes  Christ  most — The  recording  Angel  ever  present — 
Unguarded  moments — What  the  erring  Christian  must  do — Whnt 
broke  Peter's  heart — The  Lord's  last  prayer  for  his  disciples,  and 
for  all  who  come  to  him 125 


CHAPTER   yil. 

OBEDIENCE    TO    PARENTS. 

What  God  said  in  Abraham's  praise — The  example  of  Christ — 
Warnings  to  parents — "I  won't" — Job  and  Solomon  on  Wisdom — 
The  happy  child — A  man  shall  be  known  in  his  children — The  life 
speaks — Every  action  has  a  tongue — Ahaziah  and  his  wicked 
mother — Their  fearful  end — What  a  properly  brought  up  child 
hates — What  wicked  children  do — What  the  Scriptures  say  of 
them  and  their  wicked  parents — Indications  by  which  their  true 
states  of  mind  may  be  known — What  a  parent  has  no  right  to  ask 
his  child  to  do — The  drunkard  and  profane  swearer — Frightful 
effects  of  ardent  spirits  on  the  human  body  and  mind — The  ruin 
wide-spread — Who  is  responsible — "Am  I  my  brother's  keeper?" 
— God  commands  a  disobedient  drunken  son  to  be  stoned  to  death 
by  his  parents — Spontaneous  combustion  of  drunkards — The 
fearful  doom  that  awaits  tliem  beyond  the  grave — The  profane 
swearer 141 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

OBEDIENCE    TO    PARENTS,    CONTINUED. 

Susceptibility  of  the  young  mind  to  evil  impressions — Tlie 
Christian  family — A  dying  mother's  last  words  to  her  son — The 
"  far-off  misty  days" — The  remembrance  of  her  great  love  for  him 
brings  tears  in  his  eyes — The  boy  who  is  *'too  big"  to  obey  his 


CONTENTS.  XV 

mother — What  Christ,  the  King  of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords  did — 
The  dreadful  end  of  the  wicked — The  Bible  knows  no  to-morrow 
— "Thinking  about  it" — A  limit  to  provocation — The  devices  of 
Satan — His  helpers  and  agents — What  the  Scriptures  say  of  the 
eternal  home  of  the  wicked — What  wicked  children  will  say  to 
their  parents  in  the  Day  of  Judgment 1G5 


CHAPTER   IX. 

FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS. 

The  grave — The  Christian  family  never  grows  less — Anxiety  of 
the  blest  for  the  safety  of  their  relations  and  friends — The  Indian 
mother — The  withered  blossoms  will  bloom  again — The  cloud  of 
witnesses — The  loved  ones  of  my  childhood's  days — The  true 
Soldier  of  the  Cross  no  believer  in  second  causes — Extravagant 
desires — Conflicts  and  trials — Impatience  and  murmuring — The 
changed  Cross — The  bodies  of  the  saints — Abel  and  his  harp — 
Sings  the  song  of  redeeming  love — The  faith  of  the  saints  of  old 
— The  music  of  Heaven — Unspeakable  happiness  of  the  redeemed 
— "  I  long  to  be  there" — The  Angels:  their  power  and  glory — 
The  "house"  of  "many  mansions"  in  full  view — The  ship  enters 
the  harbor — Home  at  last — The  meeting  of  death-divided  friends 
— The  Saviour's  amazing  love 177 


THE 

INNER    LIFE. 


CHAPTER   I 


ADVENT  OF  THE  ONE  ALTOGETHER  LOVELY. 

His  amazinjr  love — No  room  in  the  Inn  for  "poor"  people— -"Born  in 
a  Stable — What  the  Angels  did — His  temptations  and  sufferings — His 
transfiguration — He  weeps  over  a  rebellious  people — His  groans  and 
tears  at  the  grave  of  Lazarus — What  all  the  riches  of  the  world  could 
not  purchase — He  is  forsaken  by  all  his  friends — His  sorrows — The 
powers  of  darkness  assail  him — He  prays  the  more  earnestly — Sweats 
great  drops  of  blood — What  his  tormentors  and  murderers  said  and  did 
— The  amazing  riches  and  glory  of  the  Christian — Eternal  misery  of  all 
who  refuse  or  neglect  to  come  to  Christ — The  battle  for  souls  betwixt  the 
Armies  of  the  Cross  and  Satan  and  his  hosts — Earth  a  near  door-neigh- 
bor to  Heaven — Time  has  no  duration  in  the  reckoning  of  God — The 
speed  of  Angels — Christ  ever  present  with  the  Christian  in  his  public  and 
private  devotions — Infinite  wisdom,  power,  and  condescension  of  God. 

O  THE  depth  of  the  love  which  brought  the  Lord 
Jesus  from  the  bosom  of  his  Father,  in  the  "  heaven  of 
heavens,"  to  the  manger  in  Bethlehem,  to  the  cross 
on  Calvary,  to  the  depths  of  the  grave  in  Joseph's 
sepulchre,  which  induced  him  to  wash  men  from  their 
sins  in  his  own  blood.  Isaiah  liii.  3-12 ;  Matt.  xxvi. 
20-28;  1  John  iii.  16;  Rev.  i.  5,  6 ;  vii.  13,  14.  We 
2*  (17) 


18  ADVENT    OF    THE 

were  prisoners  at  the  bar,  condemned  to  die ;  but  he 
left  his  "Father's  house,"  and  came  down  to  earth,  and 
stood  at  our  side,  saying,  I  will  die  for  them,  that 
they  may  live  forever !  He  took  our  nature  upon  him, 
and  was  born  as  a  man !  He  entered  the  world  with 
all  the  circumstances  of  povert}^ !  He  had  a  star  to 
illustrate  his  birth  ;  but  a  stable  for  his  bed-chamber, 
and  a  manger  for  his  cradle!  The  angels  sang  hymns 
when  he  was  born  ;  but  he  was  poor,  despised,  and 
afflicted:  God  being  more  careful  to  establish  in  him 
the  covenant  of  sufferings,  than  to  refresh  his  sorrows. 
Isaiah  liii.  3-12 ;  Heb.  v.  8,  9.  Presently,  after  the  angels 
had  finished  their  hallelujahs,  he  was  forced  to  fly  to 
save  his  life,  and  the  air  became  full  of  the  shrieks  of 
the  desolate  mothers  of  Bethlehem  for  their  dying  babes. 
Matt.  ii.  18;  Jer.  xxxi.  15.  The  Father  had  no  sooner 
made  him  illustrious  with  a  voice  from  heaven,  and  the 
descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost  upon  him  in  the  waters  of 
baptism,  than  he  was  delivered  over  to  be  tempted  and 
assaulted  of  the  devil  in  the  wilderness ! 

His  transfiguration  was  a  bright  ray  of  glory ;  but  he 
also  entered  a  cloud,  and  was  told  a  sad  story  of  what 
he  was  to  suffer  in  Jerusalem.  So  that  upon  Palm 
Sunday,  when  he  rode  triumphantly  into  that  rebellious 
city,  although  hailed  with  the  acclamations  of  a  king, 
he  wet  the  palms  with  his  tears,  sweeter  than  the  drops 
of  manna,  or  the  little  pearls  of  heaven  that  descended 
upon  Mount  Hermon,  weeping  in  the  midst  of  this 
triumph    over    an   obstinate,   perishing,    and   malicious 


ONE   ALTOGETHER   LOVELY.  19 

poople !  "And  when  he  was  come  nigh,  even  at  the  des- 
cent of  the  Mount  of  Olives,  the  whole  multitude  of  the 
disciples  began  to  rejoice  and  praise  God  with  a  loud 
voice  for  all  the  mighty  works  that  they  had  seen,  saying, 
Blessed  be  the  king  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord : 
peace  in  heaven,  and  glory  in  the  highest.  And  the 
Pharisees  from  among  the  multitude  said  unto  him,  Mas- 
ter, rebuke  thy  disciples.  And  he  answered  and  said 
unto  them,  I  tell  you  that  if  these  should  hold  their  peace, 
the  stones  would  immediately  cry  out.  And  when  he  was 
come  near,  he  beheld  the  city,  and  wept  over  it,  saying,  If 
thou  hadst  known,  even  thou,  at  least  in  this  thy  day, 
the  things  which  belong  unto  thy  peace !  but  now  they 
are  hid  from  thine  eyes."  Luke  xix.  3*7-47  ;  Prov.  i.  24- 
28 ;  Jer.  viii.  20.  "  0  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem,  thou  that 
killcst  the  Prophets,  and  stonest  them  which  are  sent 
unto  thee,  how  often  w^Ould  I  have  gathered  thy  children 
together,  even  as  a  hen  gathereth  her  chickens  under  her 
wings,  and  ye  would  not!  Behold  your  house  is  left 
unto  you  desolate."  Matt,  xxiii.  SI,  38  ;  John  vii.  34,  35; 
Acts  xiii.  45,  46.  "  If  I  had  not  done  among  them  the 
works  which  none  other  man  did,  they  had  not  had  sin ; 
but  now  have  they  both  seen  and  hated  both  me  and  my 
Father.  But  this  cometh  to  pass,  that  the  word  might 
be  fulfilled  that  is  written  in  their  law.  They  hated  me 
without  a  cause." 

Look  at  him  at  the  grave  of  Lazarus !  The  sufferings 
of  the  two  sisters  touch  his  loving  heart ;  and  there  he — 
"the  Lord  of  glory,"  and  "the  Creator  of  all  things," 


20  ADVENT    OF   THE 

stands  forever  sanctioning  sorrow,  and  even  exalting  it 
into  a  manly,  most  noble  thing.  His  eyes  swim  in  tears, 
groans  rend  his  bosom  ;  he  is  deeply,  so  uncontrollably, 
so  visibly  affected,  that  the  spectators  exclaim,  "Behold, 
how  he  loved  him, ! "  These  were  precious  tears.  The 
passing  air  kissed  them  from  his  cheek,  or  they  were 
drunk  up  of  the  earth,  or  they  glistened  but  for  a  little, 
like  dew-drops  on  some  lonely  flower ;  yet  assuring  us 
of  his  sympathy  in  our  hours  of  sorrow,  their  memory 
has  been  healing  balm  to  many  a  bleeding  heart.  This 
"  man  of  sorrows,"  so  gentle,  so  tender,  so  easily  moved 
that  he  often  wept,  endued  with  a  sensibility  so  deli- 
cate, that  the  strings  of  his  heart  vibrated  to  the  slight- 
est touch,  has,  by  a  word,  rent  the  tomb. 

Why  flow  the  blessed  Saviour's  tears  ? 
Is  it  because  the  cross  he  fears  — 
Because  he  knows  he  soon  shall  die, 
And  shall  within  the  cold  grave  lie. 

He  weeps  to  see  the  sister  weep 
Of  Lazarus,  who  lies  asleep ; 
So  tender  is  his  heart,  so  kind, 
That  all  from  him  may  pity  find. 

Mary  called  her  babe  her  Saviour.  Luke  i.  46,  41 ; 
Isaiah  ix.  6  ;  Micah  v.  2,  3.  Mary  was  once  poor,  but 
now  she  had  what  all  the  riches  in  the  world  could  not 
purchase.  Jer.  ix.  23,  24 ;  1  Cor.  iii.  21-23  ;  2  Cor.  vi.  10; 
Colos.  ii.  3.  Ah,  happy  Mary  !  happy  Mary !  And  yet- 
wonderful  to  relate,  this  amazing  treasure  of  the  now 
happy  Mary,  was  once  sold  for  thirty  pieces  of  silver  I 


ONE    ALTOGETHER    LOVELY.  21 

Zech.  xi.  12,  13;  Matt,  xxvii.  3,  4.  The  first  star  that 
ever  shone,  nay,  the  first  angel  that  ever  sang,  are  but 
things  of  yesterday  beside  this  manger,  where  couched 
in  straw  and  wrapped  in  swaddling  clothes,  a  new-born 
babe  is  sleeping.  "Before  Abraham  was,"  or  these 
were,  "I  am,"  says  Jesus.  His  mother's  maker,  and 
his  mother's  child,  he  formed  the  living  womb  that  gave 
him  birth,  and  ages  before  that,  the  rock  that  gave  him 
burial.  A  child,  yet  Almighty  God;  a  Son,  yet  The 
everlasting  Father,  The  Prince  of  Peace  I  Isaiah  ix.  6; 
John  xiv.  8,  9.  See  him  in  that  hall — a  spectacle  of  woe  ; 
an  old  purple  robe  on  his  bleeding  back ;  in  his  hand  a 
reed;  and  on  his  head  a  wreath  —  not  of  laurel,  but  of 
thorns,  while  the  blood,  trickling  down  from  many 
wounds  over  his  lovely  face,  falls  on  a  breast  heaving 
with  a  sea  of  sorrows ! 

Oh,  my  Saviour !   what  a  theme  for  mortal  tongue  ! 

For  never  yet  hath  burning  spirit  flung 

O'er  thrilling  chord  his  rapture-making  hands, 

To_theme  so  great,  'mid  heaven's  seraphic  bands. 

Through  the  long  silence  of  eternal  night, 

Thou  wast,  enthroned  in  uncreated  light; 

Thyself  a  universe — thyself  thine  all ! 

And  when,   of  thy  mere  goodness,  thou  didst  call 

Angelic  worlds  around  thee,  sweetly  rolled 

Their  strains  o'er  harps  of  pure,  ethereal  gold. 

They  sung  thee  God — creation's  fount  and  end, 

Their  Sovereign  Benefactor,  Xord  and  Friend. 

Their  "  Holy,  Holy,   Holy,"  pealed  around, 

Deep  echoing  through  immensities  profound ; 

Yet  none,  amidst  their  shining  hosts  of  light, 

E'er  hailed  thee,   "Saviour!"  that  supreme  delight 

Reserved  for  guilty  man  —  for  guilty  me!  — 

To  sing  through  time,   and  through  eternity. 


22  ADVENT    OE    THE 

Yes,  He  who  had  been  waited  on  by  angels,  becomes 
the  servant  of  servants,  takes  a  towel,  and  girds  himself, 
and  washes  his  disciples'  feet !  John  xiii.  4,  5  ;  Matt.  xxvi. 
2Y,  28.  He  who  was  honored  with  the  hallelujahs  of  ages 
is  now  mocked,  spit  upon,  and  scourged !  Oh,  for  w^ords 
to  picture  his  humiliation!  Dan.  vii.  13,  14  ;  Psalm  xxii. 
IG,  18;  Ixix.  20,  21 ;  Matt,  xxvii.  29-35.  The  stupendous 
fabric  of  creation,  yonder  starry  vault,  this  magnificent 
world,  were  the  work  of  the  hands  by  which,  in  love  to 
poor  sinful  man,  he  ''  the  Lord  of  glory,"  hung  a  mangled 
form,  on  the  Cross  of  Calvary  !  Deserted  by  the  world, 
"  a  man  of  sorrows,  and  acquainted  with  grief,"  depend- 
ent on  a  few  humble  followers  for  the  most  common 
necessaries  of  life,  within  a  few  hours  of  an  ignominious 
death,  his  foot  already  on  the  verge  of  the  grave,  he  rises 
to  the  loftiness  of  Godhead ;  and  turning  an  eye  that 
was  to  be  soon  darkened  on  earth,  he  claims  a  com- 
munity of  property  with  God.  "All  things,"  he  says, 
"that  the  Father  hath  are  mine." 

Though  He  was  rich,  yet  for  our  sakes  he  became 
poor,  that  we  through  his  poverty  might  become  rich ! 
2  Cor.  viii.  9  ;  Matt.  viii.  20  ;  Luke  ix.  58.  He  took  upon 
him  the  form  of  a  man,  and  ended  a  life  of  sorrow  by  a 
death  of  pain,  that  he  might  reconcile  a  fallen  world  to 
an  offended  God!  Eph.  ii.  15,  16;  Rom.  iii.  24,  25.  His 
mental  suffering  was  ineffable,  inconceivable  ;  the  tempta- 
tions to  which  he  w^as  exposed  were  all  that  Satanic 
ingenuity  could  devise,  to  harass  and  shock  his  holy 
mind.     Never  was  sorrow  like  his  sorrow.     All  human 


ONE    ALTOGETHER    LOVELY.  23 

suffering  compared  with  his,  scarcely  deserves  the  name. 
The  deeps  environed  him ;  the  waters  came  into  his 
soul :  all  God's  waves  and  billows  passed  over  him.  He 
was  given  up  to  the  assaults  of  the  infernal  hosts.  Oh, 
how  they  tormented  his  holy  soul !  Oh,  what  nameless 
terrors  !  He  was  indeed  the  man  who  saw  affliction  by 
the  rod  of  God's  wrath.  What  an  idea  do  these  words 
give  of  the  intensity  of  his  agony,  "  Now  is  my  soul 
troubled  ;  and  what  shall  I  say?  —  my  soul  is  exceeding 
sorrowful,  even  unto  death.  This  cup  which  Thou 
givest  me  to  drink,  shall  I  not  drink  it?"  "And  there 
appeared  an  angel  unto  him  from  heaven,  strengthening 
him.  And  being  in  an  agony  he  prayed  more  earnestly: 
and  his  sweat  was  as  it  were  great  drops  of  blood  falling 
down  to  the  ground." 

So  deep  were  his  sorrows,  so  fervent  bis  prayers, 
That  down  o'er  his  bosom  roll'd  great  bloody  tears ; 
I  wept  to  behold  him;  I  asked  him  his  name  — 
lie  answer'd,  'Tis  Jesus!  from  heaven  I  came. 

I  am  thy  Redeemer!  for  thee  I  must  die; 
The  cup  is  most  bitter,  but  cannot  pass  by. 
Thy  sins,  like  a  mountain,  are  laid  upon  me ; 
And  all  this  deep  anguish  I  suffer  for  thee. 

I  heard  with  deep  sorrow  the  tale  of  his  woe, 
While  tears  like  a  fountain  of  waters  did  flow  ; 
The  cause  of  his  sorrows  to  hear  him  repeat, 
Affected  my  heart,  and  I  fell  at  his  feet. 

I  trembled  with  sorrow,   and  loudly  did  cry. 

Lord !  save  a  poor  sinner,  0  save,   or  I  die ! 

He  smiled  when  he  saw  me,  and  said  to  me,   "Live; 

Thy  sins,  which  are  many,  I  freely  forgive  I  " 


24  ADVENT    OF    THE 

How  sweet  was  that  moment  lie  bade  me  rejoice  ! 
His  smile,  0  how  pleasant !  how  cheering  his  voice  ! 
I  flew  from  the  garden  to  spread  it  abroad  — 
I  shouted,  Salvation !   and  Glory  to  God ! 

Yiew  that  crucifixion  !  Look  at  that  thorny  crown  on 
his  ensanguined  temples  I  See  that  ragged  purple  robe, 
but  ill  concealing  his  lacerated  and  bleeding  form  !  Look 
at  that  mocking  sceptre  of  a  reed ;  but  the  same  meek, 
heavenly,  and  uncomplaining  tenderness !  Oh,  how 
mournful  the  expression  of  his  lovely  features !  His 
parted  lips,  already  livid  with  approaching  death,  are 
uttering  his  dying  prayer  for  his  murderers,  "  Father, 
forgive  them,  for  they  know  not  what  they  do."  But  — 
wonderful  to  relate,  "they  laughed  him  to  scorn:  they 
shot  out  the  lip,  they  shook  the  head,"  saying,  "  He 
trusted  in  God :  let  him  deliver  him  now,  for  he  said,  I 
am  the  Son  of  God."  "  They  gave  him  gall  for  his  meat, 
and  in  his  thirst  they  gave  him  vinegar  to  drink."  Ah, 
flow,  ye  tears,  flow  down  these  cheeks  of  mine. 

Yes,  he  is  surely  dead, 

The  cruel  soldier  said ; 

Then  pierced  the  Saviour's  side. 

Behold,   a  mingled  tide 
Of  blood  and  water  flowing  from  the  wound, 
Covered  with  crimson  stains  Golgotha's  ground. 

The  loving  John  was  near; 

He  saw  the  soldier's  spear 

Bring  forth  that  wondrous  flood 

Of  water  and  of  blood  ; 
And  well  remembered  hoAV  his  Master  said, 
He  came  for  sinful  man  his  blood  to  shed. 


ONK    ALTOGETHER    LOVELY.  25 

The  blood  that  flowed  that  day 

Long  since  has  passed  away ; 

But  still  there  flows  a  stream — 

Though  by  all  unseen  — 
For  those  that  trust  the  blood  on  Calvary  spilt ; 
And  in  that  stream  their  souls  are  washed  from  guilt. 

Oh,  what  a  death  for  the  Father's  "well-beloved 
Sou  ! "  Xo  one  wiped  the  perspiration  from  his  brow. 
Xo  one  cheered  him  with  words  of  comfort.  Whoever 
left  the  world  more  forsaken  and  involved  in  deeper 
shades  than  he  ?  Yet  do  not  mistake  him.  It  was  not 
a  conflict  in  which  w^e  see  him  engaged,  but  a  sacrificial 
act.  He  did  not  yield  to  death  like  us,  but  devoted  him- 
self to  it.  The  payment  of  the  wages  of  sin  is  due  only 
from  sinners.  The  Holy  One  of  Israel  had  nothing  in 
common  with  death.  What  was  it  then  we  witness  on 
Calvary  ?  Look  up !  After  having  uttered  the  great 
and  triumphant  shout,  "  It  is  finished  !  "  he  again  moves 
his  lips  to  speak.  What  will  follow,  signs  of  weakness 
and  a  mournful  farewell?  0  not  so!  Listen!  With  a 
loud  voice,  and  the  strength  and  emphasis  of  one  who 
does  not  die  from  weakness,  nor  dying  pays  a  forced 
tribute  to  a  mournful  necessity ;  but  as  one  who  is  Lord 
over  death,  and  voluntarily  yields  himself  up  to  it,  he 
exclaims — and  noise  of  rending  rocks,  falling  mountains, 
and  bursting  sepulchres  accompany  his  cry,  "  Father, 
into  thy  hands  I  commend  my  spirit!"  and  after  these 
words,  like  one  whose  labor  is  finished,  he  bows,  self- 
acting,  his  bleeding  head  upon  his  breast,  and  resigns 
his  Spirit,  or,  as  John  expresses  it,  "gives  up  the  ghost." 


'26  ADVENT    OF    THE 

Yes,  glory  be  to  God,  the  Holy  and  Just  submits  him- 
self, representatively,  to  the  fate  of  the  guilty,  while  the 
latter  are  forever  liberated,  and  inherit  the  indescribably 
happy  lot  of  the  Son  of  God.  Rev.  xxi.  T  ;  1  Cor.  iii.  21- 
23.  O  wonderful  and  incomparably  blessed  truth  ! 
"  God  made  him  to  be  sin  for  us,  who  knew  no  sin,  that 
we  might  be  made  the  righteousness  of  God  in  him  !  " 
2  Cor.  V.  21 ;  Jer.  xxiii.  6  ;  Kom.  x.  4.  "  Therefore,  being 
justified  by  faith,  we  have  peace  with  God  through  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

Hark  !  the  voice  of  love  and  mercy 

Sounds  aloud  from  Calvary  ; 
See  !  it  rends  the  rocks  asunder, 

Shakes  the  earth  and  veils  the  sky; 
"It  is  finished  !  " — 

Hear  the  dying  Saviour  cry. 
It  is  finished!   0  what  pleasure 

Do  these  precious  words  afford ! 
Heavenly  blessings  without  measure, 

Flow  to  us  from  Christ  the  Lord, 
"It  is  finished!  "— 

Saints,  the  dying  words  record. 
Tune  your  harps  anew,  ye  seraphs ; 

Join  to  sing  the  pleasing  theme ; 
All  on  earth,  and  all  in  heaven. 

Join  to  praise  Immanuel's  name; 
"  It  is  finished  !  " — 

Glory  to  the  hlcoding  Lamb. 

O  ye  blessed,  who  belong  to  Christ,  who  can  describe 
the  glory  of  your  state !  1  Cor.  ii.  9, 10  ;  iii.  21-23  ;  2  Cor. 
vi.  9,  10  ;  Rev.  xxi.  T.  No  longer  dream  of  imaginary 
burdens,  but  know  and  never  forget  that  your  suit  is 
gained  to  all  eternity.     Behold  the  Son  of  God  yonder 


ONE    ALTOGETHER    LOVELY.  27 

\)ears  your  fetters  ;  and  nothing  more  is  required  of  you 
than  to  love  him  with  all  your  heart,  and  embrace  him 
more  and  more  closely  who  took  your  anathema  upon 
himself,  that  you  might  exclaim,  "  The  Lord  our  Right- 
eousness," 

0  Love  divine,  bow  sweet  thou  art! 
When  shall  I  find  my  willing  heart 

All  taken  up  by  thee? 

1  thirst,  I  faint,   I  die  to  prove 
The  greatness  of  redeeming  love, — 

The  love  of  Christ  to  me, 

Stronger  his  love  than  death  or  hell ; 
Its  riches  are  unsearchable ; 

The  first-born  sons  of  light 
Desire  in  vain  its  depths  to  see ; 
They  cannot  reach  the  mystery, 

The  length,   the  breadth,  the  height. 

Dear  reader,  do  you  feel  His  love  in  your  heart?  Are 
you  in  the  path  that  leads  to  Heaven  ?  If  not,  do  you 
ask,  "  What  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ?  "  The  answer  is, 
"  Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be 
saved."  But  it  is  requisite  to  feel  your  need  of  him,  and 
to  believe  that  he  is  able  and  willing  to  save  you,  and  to 
save  you  now.  Satan  may  have  been  trying  to  persuade 
you  that  Christ  is  not  able  to  save  so  great  a  sinner  as 
you  are.  It  is  false,  for  All  power  is  given  unto  Christ 
in  heaven  and  in  earth.  Matt,  xxviii.  18.  "  Wherefore 
he  is  able  to  save  them  to  the  uttermost  that  come  unto 
God  by  him."  Heb.  vii.  25.  Say  not,  then,  "Alas!  alas! 
it  is  too  late!"  or,  "I  have  warred  too  long  aii^ainst  the 


28  ADVENT    OF    THE 

Holy  Spirit  to  bt)pc  for  mercy;  I  feel  that  my  sins  are 
too  great  to  be  forgiven;  I  am  a  lost  man!"  Not  so, 
not  so;  for  if  you  truly  feel  in  your  heart  that  you  are  "  a 
lost  man,"  and  feel  deeply  penitent — "  broken  in  heart," 
on  account  of  your  sins,  you  are  a  saved  man ;  for  Jesus 
came  to  save  "  lost"  men.  Luke  xix.  10  ;  Matt.  ix.  12, 13; 
John  vi.  37.  His  word  is,  "  Thou  hast  destroyed  thy- 
self, but  in  Me  is  thine  help."  Hosea  xiii.  9  ;  Rom.  x.  4- 
12  ;  Colos.  ii.  14.  He  desires  to  exhibit  you  in  the  sight 
of  heaven,  earth,  and  hell,  as  joroof  of  what  the  blood  of 
the  Cross  is  able  to  accomplish.  When  he  was  upon 
earth,  he  never  spurned  the  guiltiest  away.  He  pitied 
whom  others  loathed,  and  interceded  for  them  "with 
strong  crying  and  tears." 

St.  Paul,  speaking  of  the  Corinthians,  says  they  were 
"  fornicators,  effeminate,  thieves,  covetous,  drunkards, 
revilers,  extortioners."  "Such,"  he  says,  "were  some 
of  you."  Yet  even  them  the  Spirit  of  God  made  alive. 
"Ye  are  washed,"  he  writes,  "ye  are  sanctified,  ye  are 
justified,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  and  by  the 
Spirit  of  our  God."  1  Cor.  vi.  9-11.  There  was  nothing 
in  the  Colossians  that  the  Spirit  of  God  should  visit 
their  hearts.  St.  Paul  tells  us  that  "they  walked  in 
fornication,  uncloanness,  inordinate  affections,  evil  concu- 
piscence, and  covetousness,  which  is  idolatry."  Yet 
them  also  the  Spirit  of  God  quickened.  He  made  them 
"put  off  the  old  man  with  his  deeds,  and  put  on  the  new 
man  which  is  renewed  in  knowledge  after  the  image  of 
Him   that   created    him."    Col.   iii.   5-10.      There    was 


ONE   ALTOGETHER    LOVELY.  29 

nothing  in  Mary  Magdalene  that  the  Spirit  of  God 
should  make  her  soul  alive.  (See  Mark  xvi,  9  ;  Luke  xi. 
21,  22;  and  Psalm  Ixviii.  18.)  Yet  even  her,  the  Spirit 
of  God  made  a  new  creature,  separated  her  from  her  sins, 
brought  her  to  Christ,  made  her  last  at  the  cross,  and 
first  at  the  tomb.    ' 

Tell  nic  Avho  is  standing  there 

"With  weeping  e3'es  and  flowing  hair, 

And  box  of  ointment  sweet. 
Now  on  the  ground  she's  bending  low  ; 
Her  tears  yet  fast  and  faster  flow ; 

They  fall  on  Jesus'  feet. 

To  her  dear  Lord  much  love  she  bears. 
His  feet  she  washes  with  her  tears, 

And  wipes  them  with  her  hair; 
And  then  with  pious  tenderness. 
Fond  kisses  ceases  not  to  press,  ^ 

And  pours  the  ointment  rare. 

Ah,  she  whose  love  is  now  so  strong. 
Has  wandered  far,  has  wandered  long, 

And  from  her  God  has  gone  ; 
But  now  with  willing  feet  returns. 
And  now  with  deepest  sorrow  mourns 

The  deeds  that  she  has  done. 

And  will  the  Lord  in  pity  look, 

And  blot  her  crimes  from  out  his  book, 

And  words  of  comfort  say  ? 
Ah,  yes ;  e'en  now  he  pardon  gives, 
E'en  now  the  weeping  sinner  lives. 

And  wipes  her  tears  away. 

Sinners  of  every  name  and  nation,  —  sinners  of  every 
sort  and   description,  have  knocked  at  the  door  of  the 
fold,  and  none  —  who  came  with  "  a  broken  heart  and  a 
3* 


bO  ADVENT    OF    THE 

contrite  spirit "  —  have  ever  been  refused  admission. 
John  vi.  37  ;  Acts  x.  34,  35.  It  was  his  glory  while  on 
earth,  and  it  is  his  glory  still,  to  be  reproached  as  the 
"  friend  of  sinners  ; "  a  friend  continually  to  teach  them 
"the  Way"  to  heaven.  His  word  is,  "Be  thou  faithful 
unto  death,  and  I  will  give  thee  a  crown  of  life."  Rev. 
ii.  10.  "  He  that  overcometh  shall  inherit  all  things, 
and  he  shall  be  my  son."  Rev.  xxi.  t.  "Therefore  let 
no  man  glory  in  men  :  for  all  things  are  yours  ;  whether 
Paul,  or  Apollos,  or  Cephas,  or  the  world,  or  life,  or 
death,  or  things  present,  or  things  to  come ;  all  a^e 
yours;  and  ye  are  Christ's,  and  Christ  is  God's."  1  Cor. 
iii.  21-23  ;  Jer.  ix.  23,  24.  Ye,s,  you  poor  broken-hearted 
ones,  whom  this  world's  pettiest  monarch  would  sweep 
from  his  path,  nor  deem  you  worthy  the  slightest  notice, 
Jesus,  "the  Prince  of  Light,"  bending  from  his  throne, 
invites  to  share  his  glory,  and  become  with  him,  "  Kings 
and  priests  unto  God ! "  He  does  not  say,  "  half  my 
kingdom."  No;  he  offers  nothing  by  halves.  His  pro- 
mise, unlike  that  of  an  earthly  monarch,  is  illimitable. 
He  says,  "all  Mine  are  thine;"  confining  his  generosity 
neither  to  kingdoms,  nor  continents,  nor  worlds,  nor 
heaven  itself.  He  lays  the  whole  universe  at  the  feet 
of  "  the  broken  in  heart,"  or  truly  penitent. 

The  poorest  man  on  earth,  who  feels  the  love  of  Christ 
in  his^  heart,  is  infinitely  more  important  and  honorable 
in  the  sight  of  God,  than  an  unconverted  king.  The  one 
may  glitter  like  a  butterfly  in  the  sun  for  a  little  season, 
and  be  admired  by  an  ignorant  world,  but  his  latter  end 


ONE    ALTOGETHER    LOVELY.  81 

is  darkness  and  misery  forever.  The  other  may  erawl 
through  the  world  like  a  crushed  worm,  and  be  despised 
by  every  one  who  sees  him ;  but  his  latter  end  is  a  glorious 
resurrection  and  a  blessed  eternity.  Of  him  the  Lord 
says,  "  I  know  thy  poverty,  but  thou  art  rich."  Rev. 
ii.  9  ;  1  Cor.  iii.  21-23  ;  2  Cor.  vi.  9,  10  ;  Jer.  ix.  23,  24. 

In  every  case  of  true  repentance,  Satan  suffers  a  de- 
feat, and  Christ  gains  a  victor}^  When  the  tide  of  battle 
thus  runs  in  favor  of  the  Cross,  and  when  the  standard 
of  the  Gospel  is  unfurled,  and  spread  over  the  citadel  of 
another  conquered  heart,  Angels  rejoice,  and  watch  the 
issue  of  the  conflict  that  is  going  on  betwixt  the  follow- 
ers of  the  Lamb  and  the  slaves  of  Satan.  The  language 
which  Jesus  utters,  when  he  tells  us  that  there  is  an  inte- 
rest felt  in  heaven  over  the  repentance  of  every  sinner, 
at  the  very  moment  it  is  taking  place  upon  earth,  re- 
minds us  that  there  is  a  communication,  such  as  Chris- 
tians too  seldom  realize,  betwixt  the  inhabitants  of  earth 
and  those  above.  Such  a  declaration  proves,  that,  how- 
ever we  may  dream  about  the  "far-oflf"  kingdom,  never- 
theless the  earth  is  such  a  near  door-neighbor  to  heaven, 
that  what  is  taking  place  upon  its  surface  is  not  only 
known,  but  felt,  in  the  world  of  peace ;  showing  that 
the  mode  of  communication  is  quick  and  accurate  be- 
tween the  two  worlds.  Besides,  we  must  not  forget  the 
amazing  fact,  that  time  has  no  duration  in  the  reckoning 
of  God.  "  One  day  iSy  with  the  Lord  as  a  thousand 
years,  and  a  thousand  years  as  one  day."  Space,  upon 
the  same  principle,  has  no  extension  in  the  measurement 


32  ADVENT    OF    THE 

of  God.  There  is  no  such  thing  as  distance,  considered 
in  its  relations  to  Him.  Quickness  of  transition,  to 
some  extent,  also  annihilates  space.  The  speed  of  An- 
gels may  be  so  great  in  their  transitions  from  heaven  to 
earth,  and  from  earth  back  again  to  heaven,  that,  far  as 
the  regions  may  be  asunder,  they  may  make  the  passage 
quick  as  a  gleam  of  lightning,  or  rapid  as  the  twink- 
ling of  an  eye.  Even  our  thoughts  almost  annihilate 
space  as  they  roam  to  and  fro  through  the  great  creation, 
and  up  and  down  through  the  h-eavens,  and  round  about 
the  throne  of  God.  Angels  and  glorified  spirits  may 
move  through  space  much  quicker  than  our  thoughts  do, 
and  therefore  quicker  than  the  beams  of  light  move 
away  from  the  sun  into  the  regions  around.  (See  Isaia,h 
XXV.  1 ;  Dan.  ix.  21-23 ;  and  Luke  ii.  13.) 

The  great  universe  is  the  house  of  God, — Avhich  he 
more  than  fills ;  for  he  made  it,  and  the  Creator  must  be 
greater  than  the  creature,  —  in  which  he  walks  in  his 
majesty  to  and  fro,  and  in  every  part  of  which  he  mani- 
fests, by  the  works  of  his  hands  and  the  evolutions  of 
his  providence,  his  awful  presence.  "Am  I  a  God  at 
hand,  saith  the  Lord,  and  not  a  God  afar  oif.  Can  any 
hide  himself  in  secret  places  that  I  shall  not  see  him  ? 
saith  the  Lord.  Do  not  I  fill  heaven  and  earth  ?  saith 
the  Lord."  Jer.  xxiii.  23,  24  ;  1  Chron.  xxviii.  9  ;  2  Chron. 
xvi.  9.  "  Behold  the  nations  are  as  a  drop  of  a  bucket, 
and  are  counted  as  the  small  dust  of  the  balance  :  behold 
He  taketh  up  the  isles  as  a  very  little  thing.  All  nations 
before  Him  are  as  nothing,  and  vanity.     To  whom  then 


ONE    ALTOGETHER    LOVELY.  33 

will  ye  liken  God?  or  to  what  likeness  will  ye  compare 
him?  Have  ye  not  known?  have  ye  not  heard?  hath 
it  not  been  told  3^ou  from  the  beginning?  have  ye  not 
understood  from  the  foundation  of  the  earth  ?  It  is  He 
that  sitteth  upon  the  circle  of  the  earth,  and  the  inhabi- 
tants thereof  are  as  grasshoppers ;  that  stretcheth  out 
the  heavens  as  a  curtain  to  dwell  in.  Who  hath  mea- 
sured the  waters  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand,  and  meted 
out  heaven  with  the  span,  and  comprehended  the  dust 
of  the  earth  in  a  measure,  and  weighed  the  mountains 
in  scales,  and  the  hills  in  a  balance  ?  To  whom  then  will 
ye  liken  me,  or  shall  I  be  equal?  saith  the  Holy  One. 
Lift  up  your  eyes  on  high,  and  behold  who  hath  created 
these  things,  that  bringeth  out  their  host  by  number :  He 
ealleth  them  all  by  names  by  the  greatness  of  his  might, 
for  that  he  is  strong  in  power;  not  one  faileth." 

The  moral  government  of  God  is  still  more  wonderful. 
The  Scriptures  very  plainly  teach  the  special  presence 
of  God  in  all  places  where  his  j^eople  meet  to  pray  and 
praise.  The  Psalms  are  full  of  allusions  to  it ;  and  so 
are  most  of  the  books  of  the  New  Testament.  "  Where 
two  or  three  are  gathered  together  in  my  Name,  there  I 
am  in  the  midst  of  them."  Matt,  xviii.  20.  "But  thou, 
when  thou  prayest,  enter  into  thy  closet,  and  when  thou 
hast  shut  thy  door,  pray  to  thy  Father  which  is  in 
secret ;  and  thy  Father  which  seeth  in  secret  shall 
reward  thee  openly."  Matt.  vi.  6.  ''  No  man  hath  as- 
cended up  to  heaven,  but  he  that  came  down  from  hea- 
ven, even  the  son  of  man  which  is  in  heaven."  John  iii. 


34  ADVENT    OF    THE 

13;  Deut.  iv.  15.  From  these  passages  of  Scripture,  we 
learn  that  Christ  is  present  with  every  Christian  in  his 
private  devotions,  and  in  every  assembly  which  may  be 
convened  at  the  same  time  throughout  the  world ;  that 
be  is  at  the  same  time  in  heaven  and  upon  earth. 

When  I  survey  the  wondrous  cross 

On  which  the  Prince  of  glory  died, 
My  richest  gain  I  count  but  loss, 

And  pour  contempt  on  all  my  pride. 

Forbid  it.  Lord,  that  I  should  boast, 
Save  in  the  death  of  Christ,  my  God : 

All  the  vain  things  that  charm  me  most, 
I  sacrifice  them  to  his  blood. 

See,  from  his  head,  his  hands,  his  feet, 
Sorrow  and  love  flow  mingled  down  ; 

Did  e'er  such  love  and  sorrow  meet, 
Or  thorns  compose  so  rich  a  crown  ? 

Were  the  whole  realm  of  nature  mirie, 

That  were  a  present  far  too  small ; 
Love  so  amazing,  so  divine, 

Demands  my  soul,  my  life,  my  all. 

Yes,  the  faithful  soldier  of  Christ  is  ever  ready  to  say, 
with  St.  Paul,  "Yea,  doubtless,  and  I  count  all  things  but 
loss  for  the  excellency  of  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus 
my  Lord  :  for  whom  I  have  suffered  the  loss  of  all  things, 
and  do  count  them  but  dung,  that  I  may  win  Christ,  and 
be  found  in  him,  not  having  mine  own  righteousness, 
which  is  of  the  law,  but  that  which  is  through  the  faith 
of  Christ,  the  righteousness  which  is  of  God  through  faith." 
Phil.  iii.  8,  9;  1  Cor.  ii.  2;  Isaiah  Ixiv.  6;  Jer.  xxiii. 
ij;   Acts  iv.  12. 


CHAPTER    II. 

TTTE     LOVK     THAT     PASSETH     KNOWLEDGE. 

The  love  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory — What  St.  John  heard — Effect 
of  a  mother's  prayers,  and  of  preaching  Christ  and  him  crucified — 
Amazing  effects  of  pardon — Why  these  raptures  are  allowed  new  converts 
— The  proofs  of  true  conversion — Who  are  true  Christians,  and  who 
mere  professors  or  "reprobates"  —  Heart-cheering  experiences  —  The 
beacon-light  of  their  Father's  house  in  full  view — Sounds  like  "  foolish- 
ness" to  men  of  the  world — "  Divers  operations,  but  the  same  God" — Love 
and  sorrow — Christ  always  uppermost  in  the  thoughts  of  his  people — 
They  cling  to  the  Cross  like  the  ivy  to  the  tree. 

When  a  man  loves  God,  with  all  his  heart,  and  his 
neighbor  as  himself,  all  nature  appears  to  sympathize 
with  him ;  he  goes  forth  with  joy,  and  is  led  forth  with 
peace;  "the  mountains  and  the  hills  break  forth  before 
him  into  singing,  and  all  the  trees  of  the  field  clap  their 
hands."  The  fields,  the  rivers,  the  sky,  the  air,  the 
sun,  the  stars,  the  cattle,  the  birds,  the  fish  —  yea,  the 
very  stones  seem  sharers  of  his  joy.  They  are  the 
choir  and  he  the  leader  of  a  band,  who,  at  the  lifting 
of  his  hand,  pours  forth  whole  floods  of  harmony.  The 
sweet  singer  of  Israel  felt  this  love  in  his  heart  when  he 
exclaimed,  '*  Praise  ye  Him,  sun  and  moon :  praise  him 
all  ye  stars  of  light.  Praise  Him,  ye  heaven  of  heavens, 
and   ye  waters  that  be  above  the  heavens.     Let  them 

(35) 


86        THE    LOYE    THAT    PASSETH    KNOWLEDGE. 

praise  the  name  of  the  Lord  :  for  he  commanded  and 
they  were  created.  He  hath  also  established  them  for- 
ever and  ever:  he  hath  made  a  decree  which  shall  not 
pass.  Praise  the  Lord  from  the  earth,  ye  dragons,  and 
all  deeps :  fire,  and  hail ;  snow,  and  vapor ;  stormy 
wind  fulfilling  his  word :  mountains,  and  hills,  fruitful 
trees,  and  all  cedars :  beasts,  and  all  cattle  ;  creeping 
things,  and  flying  fowl :  kings  of  the  earth :  both  young 
men,  and  maidens ;  old  men,  and  children :  let  them 
praise  the  name  of  the  Lord:  for  his  name  alone  is 
excellent;  his  glory  is  above  the  earth  and  heaven." 
Psalm  cxlviii.  3-13;  Luke  xix.  40.  "And  every 
creature  which  is  in  heaven  and  on  earth,  and  such  as 
are  in  the  sea,  and  all  that  are  in  them,  heard  I  saying, 
Blessing,  and  honor,  and  glory,  and  power,  be  unto  Him 
that  sitteth  upon  the  throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb,  for- 
ever and  ever." 


Praise  ye  the  Lord,  ye  immortal  choirs 

That  fill  the  worlds  above ; 
Praise  him  who  form'd  you  of  his  fires, 

And  feeds  you  with  his  love. 

Thou  restless  globe  of  golden  light, 
Whose  beams  create  our  days, 

Join  with  the  silver  queen  of  night, 
To  own  your  borrow'd  rays. 

Thunder  and  hail,  and  fire  and  storms, 
The  troops  of  his  command, 

Appear  in  all  your  dreadful  forms, 
And  speak  his  awful  hand. 


THE    LOVE    THAT    PASSETH    KNOWLEDGE.        37 

Shout  to   the  Lord,   yc  surging  sens, 

In  your  eternal  roar  ; 
Let  wave  to  wave  resound  his  praise, 

And  shore  reply  to  shore. 

A  young  man  who  had  long  been  the  subject  of  a 
pious  mother's  prayers,  speaking  of  his  early  Christian 
experience,  says,  "After  listening  to  a  powerful  sermon 
on  the  sufferings  and  death  of  Christ,  I  went  home 
much  oppressed.  I  spoke  to  no  one,  and  did  not  dare 
to  lift  my  eyes  from  my  feet,  as  I  expected  the  earth  to 
open  and  swallow  me.  The  commotion  of  my  soul  was 
altogether  such  as  language  cannot  describe.  I  crept, 
as  it  were,  to  my  room,  locked  my  door,  and  fell  upon 
my  knees ;  but  no  words  came.  I  could  not  pray. 
The  pei'spiration  was  oozing  from  every  pore.  How 
long  I  remained  on  my  knees  I  know  not ;  happily,  this 
fearful  agony  of  mind  did  not  last  long,  or  I  should  have 
died.  Some  hours  elapsed — hours  like  ages,  in  which  I 
felt  myself  before  the  throne  of  righteous  judgment. 
While  the  process  was  going  on  I  was  dumb.  Had  the 
salvation  of  my  soul  depended  on  a  word,  I  could  not 
have  uttered  it.  But  He  who  had  smitten  graciously 
healed.  As  if  they  had  been  slowly  unfolded  before 
me,  there  appeared  these  never  to  be  forgotten  words, 
'  The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  His  Son  cleanseth  us  from 
all  sin.'  1  John  i.  T  ;  Rom.  iii.  25,  26;  x.  4-12;  Col.  ii. 
14;  Heb.  viii.  12.  I  had  read  these  wonderful  words 
often,  but  now  they  appeared  new  to  me.  I  gazed, 
believed,  loved,  and  embraced  them.  The  crisis  was 
4 


38        THE    LOVE    THAT    PASSETH    KNOWLEDGE. 

past.  A  tiood  of  tears  rushed  from  my  eyes ;  my 
tongue  was  set  at  liberty,  and  I  shouted,  Glory  to 
God! 

"  For  three  days  after  this  I  was  filled  with  indescri- 
bable jo}''.  I  thought  [  saw  heaven,  with  its  blessed  inha- 
bitants, and  its  glorious  King.  I  thought  He  was  looking 
at  me  with  unutterable  compassion,  and  that  I  recog- 
nized Him  as  Jesus,  my  Saviour,  who  had  laid  me  under 
eternal  obligations.  The  world  and  all  its  riches  ap- 
peared utterly  worthless.  The  conduct  of  ungodly  men 
filled  me  with  grief  and  pity.  I  saw  everything  in  an 
entirely  new  light.  A  strong  desire  to  fly  to  heathen 
lands,  that  I  might  preach  the  news  to  idolaters,  filled 
my  heart,  and  I  felt  assured  that  I  had  but  to  open  my 
lips  to  convince  every  one  of  the  infinite  grace  of  Christ 
and  the  infinite  value  of  Salvation." 

These  raptures  are  sometimes  allowed  to  new  converts 
as  foretastes  of  heavenly  bliss,  and  to  convince  their 
minds  that  the  religion  of  the  glorious  Gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ  is  what  it  is  represented  to  be.  But  new  con- 
verts are  yet  too  carnal  to  be  capable  of  their  constant 
enjoyment.  The  principal  concern  and  business  of  the 
new  convert  is  to  seek  growth  in  grace,  rather  than 
flights  of  ecstacy;  to  struggle  against  the  motions  of 
fallen  nature,  and  the  suggestions  of  fallen  spirits ;  and 
if  the  new  convert  does  this  with  faithful  perseverance, 
he  will  give  true  proof  of  that  Christian  fortitude  which 
will  be  distinguished  by  the  crown  of  victory.  1  Cor.  ix. 
21]   Eph.  iv.  1*7-25;    v.  10-16;    Rev.  xxi.  T.     The  edu- 


THE    LOVE    THAT    FASSETH    KNOWLEDGE.        39 

cation  and  di.^cipline  must  be  more  or  less  severe,  accord- 
ing to  the  necessities  of  each  individual  case,  in  order  to 
wear  out  vicious  habits ;  to  recover  strength  of  self-gov- 
ernment, which  worldly  indulgence  must  have  weakened; 
to  repair,  as  well  as  to  raise  into  a  habit,  the  moral  prin- 
ciple, in  order  to  their  arriving  at  a  secure  state  of  virtu- 
ous happiness. 

The  body  enslaves  the  soul  by  nature,  but  by  grace 
the  spirit  learns  to  master  the  material.  The  Christian  is 
fleshly,  earthly,  and  sensual,  in  so  far  as  the  material  pre- 
dominates over  the  spiritual;  and  he  is  spiritual  in  so  far 
as  his  spirit  subdues  the  power  of  bodily  influences. 
Clearness  of  vision,  and  firmness  of  foot,  and  beauty  of 
prospect,  come  only  to  those  who  have  struggled  up  to 
the  heights  —  to  the  "heavenly  places  in  Christ  Jesus." 
Conversion  may  be  the  work  of  a  moment ;  but  a  samt  is 
not  made  in  an  hour.  Character  —  Christian  character  — 
is  not  an  act;  but  a  process;  not  a  sudden  creation,  but  a 
development.  It  grows  and  bears  fruit  like  a  tree ;  and,  like 
a  tree,  it  requires  patient  care  and  unwearied  cultivation. 

Take  another  case,  "  My  heart  was  flooded  with  de- 
light; it  was  a  w^edding-day  to  my  soul,  and  I  wore 
robes  fairer  than  ever  graced  a  bridal.  My  eyes  were 
windows  lighted  up  with  happiness  ;  my  feet  were  young 
roes  bounding  with  pleasure,  my  lips  were  fountains 
gushing  with  song,  and  my  ears  were  the  seats  of  min- 
strels. It  was  hard  to  contain  my  rapture  within  the 
narrow  bounds  of  prudence.  Like  the  insects  leaping 
in  the  sunshine,  or  the   fish   sporting  in   the  stream,  I 


iO        THE    LOVE    THAT    PASSETH    KNOWLEDGE. 

could  have  danced  to  and  fro  in  the  convulsions  of  my 
delight.  Was  I  sick,  my  pleasure  drowned  my  pain ; 
was  I  feeble,  my  bliss  renewed  my  strength.  Each 
broken  bone  praised  God ;  each  strained  sinew  blessed 
him.  I  knew  no  thought  beyond,  no  hope  above,  the 
perfect  satisfaction  of  that  hour;  for  Christ  and  his  sal- 
vation had  filled  my  soul  with  unutterable  joy  and 
peace. 

*'As  the  portals  of  earth  were  opening  for  the  coming 
of  the  summer,  so  was  I  preparing  for  glorious  days  of 
happiness  and  fruitfulness.  Everything  in  creation  was 
in  keeping  with  my  condition,  as  if  nature  was  but  a 
dress  made  by  a  skilful  hand,  fitting  my  new-born  soul 
in  every  part.  I  Avas  supremely  blest.  My  heart  was 
like  a  bell  dancing  at  bridal  joys,  and  the  world  was  full 
of  bells  chiming  with  it.  I  was  glad,  and  nature  cried, 
*  Child,  lend  me  thine  hand,  and  we  will  dance  together, 
for  I  too  am  at  ease  since  my  great  Lord  hath  loosed  me 
from  my  wintry  fetters;  come  on,  happy  soul,  and  wan- 
der where  thou  wilt,  for, 

"  I'lie  softening  air  is  balm; 
Echo  the  mountains  round  ;    the  forest  smiles  ; 
And  every  sense  and  every  heart  is  joy." 

Come  on,  then,  and  sport  with  me  on  this  our  mutual 
feast,  for  lo,  the  winter  is  past,  the  rain  is  over  and  gone, 
the  flowers  appear  on  the  earth ;  the  time  of  the  singing 
of  birds  has  come  and  the  voice  of  the  turtle  is  heard  in 
our  land:  the   fig-tree  putteth   forth  her  green  figs,  and 


THE    LOVE    THAT    PASSETH    KXOW^lLEDGE.       41 

the  vines  with   the  tender   grapes   give   a  good   smell. 
Arise,  come  away, 

**  Come  away  to  the  skies,  my  beloved,  arise. 
And  rejoice  in  the  day  thou  wast  born; 
On  this  festival  day,  come  exulting  away. 
And  with  singing  to  Ziou  return."  ' 

We  do  not  expect  to  behold  the  Holy  Ghost  with  our 
bodily  eyes,  or  to  touch  Him  with  our  hands ;  but  we 
need  no  angel  to  come  down  to  show  us  where  he 
dwells.  We  need  no  vision  from  heaven  to  tell  us  where 
we  may  find  Him.  Only  show  us  a  man  in  whom  the 
fruits  of  the  Spirit  of  God  are  to  be  seen,  and  we  see  one 
who  has  the  Spirit.  We  will  not  doubt  the  inward  pres- 
ence of  the  Almighty  cause  when  we  see  the  outward 
fact  of  an  evident  effect.  "What!  know  ye  not,"  says 
St.  Paul,  "  that  your  body  is  the  temple  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  which  is  in  you,  which  ye  have  of  God,  and  ye 
are  not  your  own.  For  ye  are  bought  with  a  price  : 
therefore  glorify  God  in  j^our  body  and  in  your  spirit, 
which  are  God's."  1  Cor.  vi.  19,  20 ;  2  Pet.  i.  19 ;  Psalm 
XXV.  14.  "  The  world  seeth  Him  not,  neither  knoweth 
Him,  but  ye  know  Him,  for  he  dwelleth  with  you,  and 
shall  be  in  you."  John  xiv.  1 ;  Col.  i.  2t ;  1  John  iii.  24. 
"  Examine  yourselves,  whether  ye  be  in  the  faith  ;  prove 
your  own  selves.  Know  ye  not  your  own  selves,  how 
that  Jesus  Christ  is  in  you,  except  ye  be  reprobates." 

0  Saviour,  welcome  to  my  heart ; 

Possess  thy  humble  throne  ; 
Bid  every  rival,  Lord,  depart, 

And  reign,   0  Christ,  alone. 


42       THE    LOVE    THAT    PASSETH    KNOWLEDGE. 

The  world  and  Satan  I  forsake  ; 

To  thee  I  all  resign  ; 
My  longing  heart,   0  Saviour,  take. 

And  fill  with  love  divine. 

0  may  I  never  turn  aside, 

Nor  from  thy  bosom  flee  ; 
Let  nothing  here  my  heart  divide 

I  give  it  all  to  thee. 

Can  we  see  the  wind  on  a  stormy  clay  ?  We  can  not, 
but  we  can  see  the  effects  of  its  force  and  power.  When 
we  see  the  clouds  driven  before  it,  and  the  trees  bending 
under  it — when  we  hear  it  whistling  through  doors  and 
windows,  or  howling  round  the  chimney-tops,  we  do  no", 
for  a  moment  doubt  its  existence:  Ave  say  "there  is  a 
wind."  Just  so  is  it  with  the  presence  of  the  Spirit  of 
God  in  the  soul.  ''  The  wind  bloweth,"  says  Jesus, 
"  where  it  listeth,  and  thou  hearest  the  sound  thereof, 
but  canst  not  tell  whence  it  cometh  or  whither  it  goeth ; 
so  is  every  one  that  is  born  of  the  Spirit."  John  iii.  8  ;  1 
John  iv.  4.  Can  we  see  the  magnetic  fluid  in  the  com- 
pass-needle ?  We  can  not.  It  acts  in  a  mysterious  way. 
But  when  we  see  that  little  piece  of  iron  always  turning 
to  the  north,  we  know  at  once  it  is  under  the  secret  in- 
fluence of  magnetic  power.  Just  so  it  is  with  the  work 
of  the  Spirit  of  God  in  the  soul. 

Ah  !   whence  that  sootliing  sound  that  came 

So  soft,  yet  burthening  the  wind  ? 
It  kindles,  like  some  latent  flame, 

The  ardent  longings  of  my  mind. 


THE    LOVE    THAT    PASSETH    KNOWLEDGE.       48 

It  is  the  Spirit's  voice, 

Still  as  the  evening  breeze, 
Just  sighing  through  the  trees, 
Breathing  celestial  joys : 
It  fills  me  with  unwonted  fire, 
With  tender,   strong,  yet  pure  desire. 

But,  say,  my  restless,  beating  heart. 

What  object  draws  thy  soaring  thought, 
That  thou  with  worlds  would'st  freely  part, 
And  deem  thy  purchase  cheaply  bought  ? 
Jesus,  my  Saviour,  God ! 

Him  my  touched  soul  desires. 
His  are  these  bosom  fires, 
Panting  to  sound  abroad 
The  name  He  bears — the  love  He  shows — 
The  grace  that  from  His  bounty  flows. 

William  Cowper,  the  Christian  poet,  at  one  period  of 
his  history,  was  driven  by  a  consciousness  of  guilt  to  the 
verge  of  despair.  At  length  he  opened  the  Bible  and 
read,  "  Christ  Jesus  God  hath  set  forth  to  be  a  propitia- 
tion for  sin,  through  faith  in  his  blood,  to  declare  his 
righteousness  for  the  remission  of  sins  that  are  past, 
through  the  forbearance  of  God."  Rom.  iii.  25;  x.  4-12. 
"  Immediately,"  he  says,  "  I  received  strength  to  be- 
lieve, and  the  full  beams  of  the  Sun  of  Righteousness 
shone  upon  me.  I  saw  that  Christ  having  suffered  for 
my  sake,  and  in  my  stead,  it  enabled  Almighty  God, 
consistently  with  his  justice  and  holiness,  to  exercise 
his  mercy  in  my  behalf.  Unless  the  Almighty  i\rm 
had  been  under  me,  I  think  I  should  have  been  over- 
whelmed with  gratitude  and  joy.  My  eyes  filled  with 
tears,  and  my  voice  choked  with  transport ;  I  could  only 


44       THE    LOVE    THAT    PASSETH    KNOWLEDGE. 

look  to  heaven  in  silent  fear,  overwhelmed  with  love  and 
wonder,  I  lost  no  opportunit}^  of  repairing  to  the  throne 
of  grace,  but  flew  to  it  with  an  earnestness  irresistible 
and  never  to  be  satisfied.  The  Lord  had  enlarged  my 
heart,  and  I  could  now  cheerfully  run  in  the  ways  of  his 
commandments."  It  was  in  such  a  state  of  mind  that 
he  composed  the  sweet  hymn,  commencing  with  the 
words,  "  There  is  a  fountain  filled  with  blood,  drawn 
from  Immanuel's  veins." 


The  dying  thief  rejoiced  to  see 
That  fountain  in  his  da}'^  ; 

And  there  may  I,  though  vile  as  he, 
Wash  all  my  sins  away. 


Take  yet  another  case,  "  The  very  fowls  of  the  barn- 
yard flocked  around  me,  tuning  their  shrill  voices,  as  I 
then  thought,  joined  with  all  creation  to  praise  the  Lord 
for  what  he  had  done  for  my  poor  soul.  I  cried  out,  Can 
this  be  the  same  field  that  I  used  to  travel?  —  is  this 
the  same  farm, —  are  these  the  same  buildings  ?  They 
must  be  the  same,  but  they  are  changed.  '  Ah  !  no  ! 
no!'  was  the  answer,  'the  change  is  in  yourself.'  I 
also  visited  those  lonely  spots,  where  in  the  days  of  my 
mourning,  far  from  human  eye,  I  used  to  vent  my  sighs, 
and  make  my  complaints  ;  and  it  appeared  as  if  all  these 
shone  with  lustre  unbounded.  I  leaped  —  I  walked  — 
I  rejoiced  that  my  sorrows  were  turned  into  joy." 

The  Spirit  of  God  can  take  a  tinker  without  learning, 
patronage,  or  money, —  a  man  at  one  time  notorious  for 


THE    LOVE    THAT    PASSETH    KNOWLEDGE.        45 

nothing  so  much  as  blasphemy  and  swearing,  and  make 
that  man  write  a  religious  book  which  shall  stand  un- 
rivalled and  unequalled  in  its  way  by  any  since  the 
time  of  the  Apostles.  He  did  this  with  John  Bunyan, 
the  author  of  Pilgrim's  Progress.  The  Spirit  of  God 
can  take  a  sailor,  drenched  in  worldliness  and  sin, —  a 
profligate  captain  of  a  slave-ship,  and  make  that  man  a 
most  successful  minister  of  the  Gospel, —  a  w^riter  of 
letters,  which  are  a  storehouse  of  experimental  religion, 
and  of  hymns  which  are  known  and  sung  wherever  the 
English  language  is  spoken.  He  did  this  with  John 
Newton.  When  the  Spirit  of  God  enters  the  Sailors' 
prayer-meeting,  "the  poor  children  of  the  sea"  stand  up 
and  bear  testimony  to  the  infinite  love  and  mercy  of 
their  glorious  Captain,  in  these  words  : 

"  Shipmates,  I  am  just  eight  months  old  to-night  in 
my  Christian  life.  I  was  born  again  on  the  sea.  0 
how  happy  I  have  been  these  eight  months  of  my 
Christian  life !  Before  that  I  was  a  slave  to  Satan. 
Oh !  what  a  miserable  drudge  I  was  in  his  cruel  service. 

Some   of  you   here   to-night  know  what  I   was how 

miserable,  on  shipboard  or  shore,  always  miserable  in 
my  sinful  ways  and  sinful  pursuits.  But  when  the 
Holy  Spirit  convinced  me  of  my  guilt  and  danger,  and 
prepared  my  heart  to  attend  to  the  caU  of  the  glorious 
Gospel  of  Christ,  and  led  me  to  the  foot  of  the  cross, 
and  as  a  poor  despairing  sinner,  to  beg  for  mercy,  and 
God  forgave  me  all  for  Jesus'  sake,  I  cannot  tell  you 
what  happiness    I   felt.       Shipmates,   it   was   then   the 


46        THE    LOVE    THAT    PASSETH    KNOWLEDGE. 

great  Captain  said  to  me,  Now  stand  by  Me,  and  I  will 
stand  by  you,  in  calm  or  storm  all  the  same,  and  will 
never  leave  or  forsake  you.  And,  glory  be  to  his  Name, 
I  have  found  his  promise  true  You  all  know  how  it  is 
with  me  now.  I  am  not  now  the  slave  I  once  was  to 
Satan.  Every  day  I  find  the  service  of  my  new  Master 
more  delightful  than  ever.  0  I  am  so  happy  !  Glory 
be  to  God !  Oh !  shipmates,  come  along  with  me. 
The  great  Captain  is  on  board.  The  articles  are  open. 
Come  and  sign  them — glorious  Commander  —  beautiful 
Ship  —  delightful  Company," — John  xiv.  21-23;  Rev. 
iii.  20;  Cant.  iv.  16;  v.  1,  2,  —  "splendid  voyage  — 
bound  to  a  glorious  port  —  princely  wages  —  Oh,  ship- 
mates, come  along!  come  along!" 

Another  sailor  said,  "  Shipmates,  I  shall  never  forget 
the  time  nor  the  place  when  and  where  God,  for  Christ's 
sake,  spoke  peace  to  my  soul.  It  was  on  board  a  man- 
of-war,  at  the  foot  of  the  main-mast,  on  a  dark  and 
stormy  night,  away  in  mid-ocean,  that  I  first  heard  the 
accents  of  forgiveness.  I  had  been  a  hardened  wretch — 
quite  as  bad  as  any  on  board  a  man-of-war,  yet  I  was 
smitten  with  conviction  of  sin,  which  appalled  me. 
Oh !  what  a  vile  sinner  I  felt  myself  to  be  !  My  whole 
soul  was  filled  with  a  sense  of  sin,  and  I  was  bowed 
under  the  grievous  load.  But  I  called  on  God,  at  the 
foot  of  the  main-mast,  and  he  pardoned  all  my  sins,  for 
Jesus'  sake  !  Oh  !  shipmates,  what  mercy!  Oh  !  what 
an  hour  was  that  to  my  poor  soul!     Six  years  ago  it 


THE    LOVE    THAT    PASSETH    KNOWLEDGE.        47 

was,  and  what  happy  years  have  those  six  years  been 
to  me. 

"Hard  was  my  toil  to  reach  the  shore, 

Long  tossed  upon  the  ocean  ; 
Above  me  was  the  thunder's  roar, 

Beneath  the  waves  commotion  : 
Darkly  the  pall  of  night  was  thrown 

Around  me,   faint  with  terror  : 
In  that  dark  hour  how  did  my  groan 

Ascend  for  years  of  error  ! 

"Sinking  and  panting  as  for  breath, 

I  knew  not  help  was  near  me  ; 
And  cried,   '  Oh  !  save  me,  Lord,  from  death  ; 

Immortal  Jesus,  hear  me  ;' 
Then  quick  as  thought  I  felt  him  mine, 

My  Saviour  stood  before  me  ; 
I  saw  his  brightness  round  me  shine, 

And  shouted.  Glory  !    Glory  !" 

A  small  sailor-boy  now  arose  and  said,  "  I  have  been 
four  years  at  sea.  I  have  neither  father  or  mother,  bro- 
ther or  sister.  I  found  out  that  I  was  a  wicked  boy,  and 
not  too  little  to  go  to  hell.  If  I  have  got  nothing  else, 
I  have  got  a  '  Friend ' — I  have  got  Jesus  to  comfort  and 
cheer  my  heart  with  his  wonderful  love ;  and  I  love  him 
loo.  Shipmates,  I  feel  very  happy  to-night."  The  sailor- 
boy's  words  were  not  lost.  There  sat  a  little  boy  before 
him  overwhelmed  with  tears.  That  little  boy  said  to  his 
father,  on  leaving  the  church:  "  Oh,  father,  I  am  so  glad 
you  took  me  to  the  poor  sailors'  prayer-meeting  to-night. 
I  shall  never  forget  it.  Oh,  my  dear  father,  I  want  to  be 
a  Christian." 


48        THE    LOVE    THAT    PASSETH    KNOWLEDGE. 

The  Spirit  of  God  can  take  a  prize-fighter,  and  trainer 
of  pugilists,  and  make  him  pour  out  his  soul  in  the  house 
of  God,  in  the  following  manner  : — "  I  feel  it  my  duty  to 
tell  you  what  the  Lord  has  done  for  my  soul.  I  hope 
you  will  hear  all  I  have  to  say.  There  are  many  here 
who  have  known  me  for  years, — who  have  known  me 
when  I  was  fearfully  wicked,  I  was  on  a  visit  to  my 
brother  in  the  country.  When  I  went  there  I  had  as 
much  idea  of  getting  religion  as  many  of  you  have  now — 
that  is  none  at  all.  I  went  to  church  to  oblige  the  people 
with  whom  I  was  staying,  that's  all.  The  Saviour  was 
there.  The  Spirit  of  God  was  powerfully  displayed,  and 
went  from  heart  to  heart  all  through  the  congregation. 
It  worked  upon  me  three  or  four  nights.  The  pastor  of 
the  church  came  to  me  and  asked  me  if  I  would  not  like 
to  get  religion,  and  serve  God.  I  answered,  '  No,  I 
didn't  care  about  it  just  then,'  and  told  him  a  lie,  for  I 
did ;  I  felt  as  though  I  needed  religion.  I  got  very  un- 
easy, and  made  up  my  mind  I  had  better  leave  that  part 
of  the  country,  as  it  was  getting  too  warm  for  me.  I 
told  my  brother  I  was  going  home  in  the  morning.  He 
said,  'Wait  another  day;'  and  I  made  up  my  mind  I 
would  stay  and  attend  another  night.  Some  remarks 
were  made  to  backsliders  the  next  night,  many  of  whom 
I  knew.  They  sat  there  unmoved.  The  minister,  and 
my  religious  friends,  had  been  trying  to  get  me  to  be  a 
Christian,  but  the  devil  said,  '  Don't  be  taken  in  by  those 
fellows.'  After  church  that  night,  we  were  going  home, — 
the  minister  lived  up  our  way, — I  made  some  remarks 


THE    LOVE    THAT    PASSETH    KNOWLEDGE.        49 

about  those  backsliders,  saying  to  him  that,  if  I  were  in 
their  place  I  would  come  out  like  a  man  and  seek  reli- 
gion over  again. 

"  The  minister  told  me  that  he  thought  I  was  a  very- 
great  sinner;  that  I  stood  in  a  critical  condition,  and 
was  more  likely  to  be  lost  than  any  of  them.  I  said  to 
my  brother,  if  that  was  the  way  the  minister  was  going 
to  talk,  I  would  go.  I  got  my  carpet-bag  ready  next 
day  and  started  ;  I  opened  the  door ;  I  wanted  to  go  and 
1  didn't  want  to  go ;  and  I  hoped  my  brother  would 
again  urge  me  to  stay ;  he  did  so,  and  I  stayed.  That 
was  on  Saturday.  After  I  had  my  dinner  I  resolved 
that  I  would  seek  the  Lord  that  night.  I  made  a  strong 
resolution  ;  I  felt  where  I  stood,  and  that  perhaps  it  was 
the  last  time  the  Spirit  of  God  would  strive  with  me. 
Saturday  night  the  invitation  was  given  to  come  forward 
to  the  Altar,  and  I  got  up,  went  forward,  and  fell  on  my 
knees  by  the  altar.  I  tried  as  hard  as  ever  man  did,  but 
I  got  no  religion, — no  peace.  Sunday  night  I  attended 
with  a  like  result.  That  night  I  could  not  sleep,  my 
sins  looked  so  frightful ;  they  came  up  on  every  hand 
and  stared  at  me  ;  all  the  sins  of  my  life  crowded  upon 
me,  many  I  should  not  have  thought  of,  had  not  the  Spirit 
of  God  brought  them  before  me.  My  heart  was  over- 
whelmed with  grief;  I  could  not  sleep.  Monday  morn- 
ing I  got  up  and  prayed ;  I  did  the  best  I  could ;  I  asked 
the  Lord  to  take  away  the  weight  that  bore  me  down  so. 
A  friend  came  to  me  that  day  and  said  he  was  going  to 
take  a  ride  and  would  like  to  have  my  company.    Know- 


50   THE  LOVE  THAT  PASSETH  KNOAVLEDGE. 

ing  bim  to  be  a  good  man,  I  consented,  thinking  be 
might  do  me  good.  There  was  little  said  as  we  rode 
along,  but  my  friend  told  me  to  keep  looking  for  the  Sa- 
viour; that  I  was  trying  to  get  religion,  and  had  let 
everybody  know  it ;  the  Lord  was  Avilling  to  bless  me  at 
any  time  or  anywhere.  I  was  riding  along,  singing  a 
hymn,  and  in  an  instant  I  felt  as  though  I  was  blessed. 
I  am  sure  I  gave  up  my  soul  and  body.  The  first  thing 
I  knew,  God  spoke  peace  to  my  soul.  It  came  like  a 
shot,  —  it  came  like  lightning,  when  I  was  not  antici- 
pating it,  and  the  first  thing  I  said  was,  '  Glory  to  God ! 
Glory  to  God  ! '  My  friend  said  he  knew  God  had  blessed 
me,  for  he  felt  the  shock  too.  The  change  was  sur- 
prising ;  everything  appeared  to  have  been  blessed ; 
even  the  horse  and  wagon.  I  felt  strong.  I  could 
almost  fly. 

•0,   sacred  hour!   0,  hallowed  spot! 

Where  love  divine  first  found  me  : 
Wherever  falls  my  distant  lot, 

My  heart  shall  linger  round  thee; 
And  when  from  earth  I  rise  to  soar 

Up  to  my  home  in  heaven, 
Down  will  I  cast  my  eyes  once  more 

Where  I  was  first  forgiven.' 

"  Glory  be  to  God,  this  religion  is  good  !  My  faith  in 
the  Lord  Jesus  grows  stronger  every  day.  I  would  face 
all  the  men  that  ever  lived,  and  tell  them  I  am  bound 
for  heaven." 

All  this  sounds  like  "foolishness"  to  those  who  know 
not    God ;  but   tens  of  thousands  of  living  men  could 


THE    LOVE    THAT    PASSETH    KNOWLEDGE.        51 

stand  up  this  day  and  testify  that  it  is  true.  They  could 
tell  you  that  they  know  it  all  by  experience,  and  that 
they  do  indeed  feel  themselves  new  men.  They  love 
the  things  that  once  they  hated,  and  hate  the  things  that 
once  they  loved.  They  have  new  habits,  new  ways, 
new  tastes,  new  joys,  new  sorrows,  new  feelings,  new 
opinions,  new  anxieties,  new  pleasures,  new  hopes  and 
new  fears.  In  short  the  whole  bias  and  current  of  their 
being  is  changed.  Once  they  cared  only  for  this  world, 
its  pleasures,  its  business,  its  occupations,  its  rewards. 
Xow  they  look  upon  it  as  an  empty  unsatisfying  place, 
—  an  inn,  —  a  lodging,  —  a  training-school  for  the  life  to 
come.  Their  treasure  is  in  heaven  ;  their  home  beyond 
the  grave.  They  see  the  beacon-light  of  their  "  Father's 
house,"  that  so  cheeringly  speaks  of  a  home  brighter 
and  better  than  the  happiest  of  earthly  ones,  cheering 
their  hearts,  and  leading  them  to  forget  the  intervening 
billows,  or  to  think  of  them  onh^  as  wafting  them  nearer 
to  their  desired  haven. 

Let  none  doubt  their  calling  because  it  came  Hot  with 
the  sound  of  a  trumpet ;  let  them  not  measure  their  own 
feelings  by  those  of  other  men,  and  because  they  are  not 
precisely  the  same,  at  once  conclude  they  are  no  children 
of  the  Kingdom.  Xo  two  leaves  upon  a  tree  are  pre- 
cisely alike,  —  variety  is  the  rule  of  nature;  the  line  of 
beauty  runs  not  in  an  undeviating  course ;  and  in  grace 
the  same  rule  holds  good.  "  There  are,"  says  St.  Paul, 
"  divers  operations,  but  it  is  the  same  God  which  worketh 
all  in  all." 


52        THE    LOVE    THAT    PASSETH    KNOWLEDGE. 

Adore  the  power  which  is  not  bound  down  to  unity 
of  method,  but  which  can  open  the  eyes  b}'^  the  clay  and 
spittle,  or  by  the  simple  touch  of  the  finger.  Jesus  cried 
with  a  loud  voice,  saying,  "Lazarus,  come  forth!"  but 
the  restoration  was  as  speedily  effected  when  he  gently 
said,  "Maid,  arise."  Zaccheus  was  called  from  the  tree 
with  a  voice  that  the  crowd  could  hear ;  but  it  was  a 
still  voice  which  in  the  garden  said,  "Mary."  Oh,  the 
emotions  of  Mary's  heart  in  that  dark  hour,  when  she 
stood  in  the  midst  of  the  congregated  and  insulting 
crowd,  and  beheld  her  dear  Lord  and  Saviour  suffering 
for  those  who  w^ere  turning  his  sufferings  into  mockery ! 
She  saw  that  brow,  which  is  now  encircled  with  a  dia- 
dem of  glory,  covered  with  sweat  and  blood,  lacerated 
and  torn  with  the  cruel  crown  of  thorns!  Her  eyes 
were  red  with  weeping,  and  dim  with  sorrow.  The 
hands  that  now  hold  the  sceptre  of  universal  dominion, 
so  often  stretched  forth  when  upon  earth  to  relieve  the 
needy,  or  lifted  up  in  prayer,  were  then  stretched  and 
nailed  to  the  bloody  beam !  Oh,  what  horror  rushed 
through  Mary's  soul  when  she  heard  the  voice  of  agony 
exclaiming,  "  My  God,  my  God,  why  hast  thou  forsaken 
me!"  Oh  the  joy  of  her  soul  when  she  heard  His  well- 
known  voice  again  saying  to  her,  "  Mary."  Ah,  weeper ! 
happy  weeper !  — 

To  thee  how  bright  a  morn  was  given, 

After  thy  long  vigil  of  despair; 

When  that  high  voice  which  burial  rocks  had  riven, 

Thrilled  with  immortal  tones  the  silent  air. 


THE    LOVE    THAT    PASSETH    KNOWLEDGE.       53 

Never  did  clarion  royal  blast  declare 
Such  tale  of  victory  to  a  breathless  crowd, 
As  the  deep  sweetness  of  one  word  could  bear 
Into  thy  heart  of  hearts.     O  woman  !   bowed 
By  strong  affection's  anguish — one  low  word, 
"Mary,"  and  all  the  triumph  wrung  from  death 
Was  thus  revealed  !   and  thou  that  had'st  so  erred, 
So  wept,  and  been  forgiven,  in  trembling  faith 
Did'st  cast  thee  down  before  th'  all-conquering  Son, 
Awed  by  the  mighty  gift  thy  tears  and  love  had  won. 

Much  love  and  much  sorrow  must  go  together  in 
this  vale  of  tears.  Matt,  xxvi.  31-39 ;  John  xi.  33-36  ; 
xvi.  20-33;  Rom.  ix.  1,  2;  xii.  15,  16;  2  Cor.  ii.  4;  vi. 
9,  10 ;  Heb.  v.  1,  8.  But  let  the  Christian  soldier  "  be 
of  good  cheer,"  for  "  the  morning  cometh" — that  bright 
morning  w^hen  the  dew-drops  collected  during  earth's 
night  of  weeping  shall  sparkle  in  eternal  sunbeams ; 
when  in  one  blessed  moment  a  life-long  experience  of 
trial  will  be  effaced  and  forgotten.  In  that  day,  the 
Lord  "will  rejoice  over  his  people  with  joy  ;  he  will  rest 
in  his  love,  he  will  joy  over  them  with  singing." 

Mary  knew  no  anchor  of  hope,  no  ground  of  consola- 
tion, no  w^ay  to  heaven,  except  through  the  mediation  of 
her  blessed  Lord,  and  were  she  to  imagine  existence 
without  him,  she  could  only  think  of  herself  as  in  the 
jaws  of  despair,  and  irrecoverably  lost.  He  was  her  last 
resource,  but  at  the  same  time  all-sufficient  for  her  eter- 
nal salvation.  Hence  she  clave  to  him  with  all  her  soul, 
and  nothing  was  able  to  separate  her  from  him.  He  was 
always  in  her  thoughts,  her  soul's  delight,  and  the  su- 
preme object  of  her  affections — all  which  she  expressed 
6* 


54       THE    LOVE    THAT    PASSETH    KNOWLEDGE. 

ill  the  act  of  anointing  in  Simon's  houso.  She  did  not 
pour  out  a  few  drops  only  of  the  precious  ointment,  but 
the  whole — as  an  emblem  of  her  profound  devotion  to 
"the  Lord  of  Glory."  With  the  utmost  reverence  she 
approached  her  Divine  friend,  broke  behind  him  the  well- 
closed  vessel,  shed  the  spikenard  upon  his  lovely  head 
and  feet,  then  humbly  bent  herself  down  and  wiped  the 
latter  with  her  loosened  tresses.  In  this  affectionate 
and  symbolical  act,  a  degree  of  devotedness  was  mani- 
fested such  as  is  rarely,  if  ever,  exhibited  among  Chris- 
tians in  our  day.  Mary  desired  to  belong  to  Christ  for 
time  and  eternity ;  to  cleave  to  him  by  faith,  like  the  ivy 
to  the  tree.  She  wished  to  live  in  his  light,  like  a  dark 
planet  in  the  beams  of  the  sun,  which  lends  it  its  radi- 
ance. Mary  soon  followed  the  dear  "Friend"  of  her 
once  unhappy  soul  to  glory,  where  she  is  now  singing 
the  song  of  redeeming  love. 

"  Oh,  I  want  to  put  on  my  attire, 

Washed  white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb ; 
I  want  to  be  one  of  your  choir, 

And  tune  my  sweet  harp  to  his  name ! 
I  want — oh,  I  want  to  be  there, 

Where  sorrow  and  sin  bid  adieu, 
Your  joy  and  your  friendship  to  share, 

To  wander  and  worship  with  you." 


CHAPTER    III. 

THE     WARFARE. 

•  What  God  does  to  the  true  members  of  his  Church — The  true  nature 
of  the  Christian  warfare — The  devices  of  Satan — His  onsets  constant^ 
Leave  no  unguarded  place — What  the  Christian  must  expect  and  do — 
No  cross  no  crown — The  hidden  designs  of  God — The  rod — Words  of 
cheer  for  sinking  hearts — The  morning  without  clouds — The  everlasting 
hills  of  glory  appear — The  spirit  of  God  sounds  a  string  here  and  there 
— Conflicts  and  trials — The  way  God  teaches  and  trains  his  children — 
Fearful  consequences  of  counteracting  His  afflictive  dispensations — 
Frightful  sufi'erings  and  deaths  of  the  most  precious  and  lovely  of  God's 
children — Dreadful  end  of  the  wicked — Steadfastness  of  the  saints  of  old 
— Why  the  Christian's  course  is  not  strewed  with  flowers  and  sunbeams. 

The  true  members  of  Christ's  Church  are  chosen  ia 
the  furnace  of  afiiiction,  Isaiah  xlviii.  10  ;  Rev.  vii.  14  ; 
and  when  they  are  tried  they  come  forth  as  gold.  Job 
xxiii.  10  ;  2  Tim.  iv.  6-8.  The  heat  of  the  furnace 
burns  out  the  dross  and  leaves  the  pure  metal  behind. 
It  is  in  the  furnace  that  the  flesh  is  destroyed  and  the 
old  man  gets  his  death-blow.  It  is  in  the  furnace  that 
self-confidence  is  uptorn,  unbelief  broken,  and  faith 
strengthened,  and  purified.  The  Holy  Spirit  and  man's 
sin  cannot  live  together  peaceably  ;  they  may  be  both  in 
the  same  heart,  but  they  cannot  both  reign  there,  nor 
can  they  both  be  quiet  there;   for  "the  Spirit  lusteth 

(55) 


56  THE    WARFARE. 

against  the  flesh,  and  the  flesh  lusteth  against  the 
Spirit ;"  they  cannot  rest,  but  there  will  be  a  perpetual 
warring  in  the  soul,  so  that  the  Christian  will  have  to 
cry  out,  "  Oh,  wretched  man  that  I  am !  who  shall 
deliver  me  from  the  body  of  this  death."  In  another 
place,  it  is  said  of  this  inward  warfare,  "  For  unto  you  it 
is  given  in  the  behalf  of  Christ,  not  only  to  believe  on 
Him,  but  also  to  suffer  for  his  sake,  having  the  same 
conflict  which  ye  saw  in  me,  and  now  hear  to  be  in 
me."  Phil.  i.  29,  30  ;  1  Thess.  iii.  5,  6  ;  Heb.  x.  32-39  ;  2 
Peter  ii.  20-22.  But  let  the  troubled  Christian  "  be  of 
good  cheer,"  for  in  due  time  the  Spirit  of  God  will  drive 
out  the  "  strong  man  armed,"  and  "  take  from  him  all 
his  armor  wherein  he  trusted,"  and  will  ''lead  captivity 
captive,''  and  present  the  faithful  soldier  of  the  Cross 
blameless  before  the  throne  of  His  Majesty  with  exceed- 
ing joy.  Luke  xi.  21,  22 ;  Psalm  Ixviii.  18.  "  Then 
shall  be  brought  to  pass  the  saying  that  is  written, 
Death  is  swallowed  up  in  victory  !  0  death  where  is 
thy  sting  ?  0  grave,  where  is  thy  victory  ?  The  sting 
of  death  is  sin  ;  and  the  strength  of  sin  is  the  law.  But 
thanks  be  to  God,  which  givcth  us  the  victory  through 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

The  best  soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ  are  always  called  to 
drink  deepest  of  his  cup,  and  carry  the  heaviest  burdens. 
He  who  lays  down  his  armor  when  the  battle  is  ever 
raging,  will  be  in  as  great  danger  as  though  he  had  no 
weapon  at  command.  The  onsets  of  Satan  are  constant, 
and   the  soul  that  hopes  to  glide  gently  and  unappre- 


THE    WAR  FAKE.  57 

hendingly  along  the  way  to  heaveu  will  at  length 
discover  the  fatal  mistake.  The  real  life  of  every  man 
is  the  inner  life  of  conflict,  of  temptation,  of  hope,  fear, 
remorse,  despair.  Never  did  battle  at  Pharsalia  or 
Waterloo  rage  like  the  battle  w^hich  often  desolates  the 
soul  of  man.  Bunyan  has  endeavored  to  depict  this 
strife,  in  the  fierce  conflict  with  Apollyon.  But  the 
reality  \v\\\  defy  the  descriptive  power  of  any  human 
pen.  There  is  nothing  on  this  side  of  eternity  more 
sublime  and  full  of  awe  than  this  soul-warfare,  as  some 
experience  it. 

Satan  usually  finds  a  season  of  affliction  favorable  to 
his  work  of  temptation,  and  he  never  fails  to  avail  him- 
self of  it.  When  Pharaoh  was  informed  that  the 
children  of  Israel  were  entangled  in  the  wilderness, 
he  resolved  to  pursue  them,  and  mustered  his  forces 
for  the  purpose,  in  the  anticipation  of  an  easy  and 
decisive  victory.  Thus  when  Satan  sees  the  Christian 
soldier  entangled  wdth  perplexity  and  distress,  he  comes 
in  upon  him  like  a  flood,  that,  if  possible,  he  may  utterlv 
overwhelm  him.  In  this  manner  he  assailed  the  Son 
of  God  himself  It  was  when  approaching  the  awful 
consummation  of  his  woes,  and  w'hen  his  soul  ^vas 
"  exceeding  sorrowful,  even  unto  death,"  that  Satan  and 
his  hosts  exerted  their  utmost  malice  against  him,  and 
turned  the  hour  of  his  deepest  anguish  into  the  hour 
and  power  of  darkness.  Thus  it  was  with  Job.  It 
was  when  he  was  suffering  from  the  irritating  influence 
of  his  complicated  woes,  that  he  tempted  him  to  "  curse 


68  THE    WAR  FARE. 

God  and  die."  Some  of  his  temptations  are  of  a  nature 
not  to  be  misunderstood ;  their  design  is  self-evident  — 
to  excite  a  murmuring  and  rebellious  disposition,  by 
representing  God  as  a  hard  task-master ;  as  severe  and 
vindictive  in  his  dispositions  —  unjust  and  unreasonable 
in  his  requirements ;  thus  he  seeks  to  inflame  the 
passions,  to  pervert  the  judgment,  and  to  excite  bitter- 
ness, opposition,  and  presumption.  Or  he  approaches 
in  a  more  covert  and  subtle  manner,  and  by  reasoning, 
not  against  God,  but  for  him,  although  in  a  manner 
equally  false  and  deceptive,  he  endeavors  to  cast  the 
soul  into  despondency,  and  to  prevent  it  from  obtaining 
help  or  comfort.  Great  is  the  distress  which,  in  conse- 
quence, is  sometimes  experienced. 

My  soul,  be  on  thy  guard  ; 

Ten  thousand  foes  arise  ; 
The  hosts  of   sin  are  pressing  hard 

To  draw  thee  from  the  skies. 

0  watch,   and  fight,   and  pray  ; 

The  battle  ne'er  give  o'er  ; 
Renew  it  boldly  every  day, 

And  help  divine  implore. 

Ne'er  think  the  vict'ry  won, 

Nor  lay  thine  armor  down  ; 
The  work  of  faith  will  not  be  done, 

Till  thou  obtain  the  crown. 

Then  persevere  till  death 

Shall  bring  thee  to  thy  God  ; 
He'll  take  thee,   at  thy  parting  breath, 

To  his  divine  abode. 


THE    WARFARE.  59 

The  way  to  the  crown  is  by  the  cross.  If  justified  by 
faith,  we  must  suffer  tribulations  also.  Go  round  to 
every  saint  in  glor}' ;  every  one  has  a  different  story, 
yet  each  has  a  tale  of  suffering.  One  was  persecuted 
by  his  "friends."  Psalm  xli.  5-8;  2  Tim.  iii.  11,  12; 
Zeeb  xiii.  6.  Another  fell  into  the  hands  of  "  false 
brethren,"  who,  "through  covetousness,"  made  mer- 
chandise of  him,  "  speaking  great  swelling  words, 
having  men's  persons  in  admiration  because  of  advan- 
tage." 2  Peter  ii.  3  ;  Jude  xvi.  Another  lost  all  his 
property,  houses,  lands,  money,  and  friends.  Phil.  iii.  8 ; 
Heb.  X.  34  ;  2  Cor.  viii.  9.  Another  was  bereaved  of 
his  children,  and  visited  by  sore  diseases.  Job  ii.  9,  10  ; 
Psalms  xxxviii.  and  Ixxxviii. ;  Lam.  iii.  1-21.  Another 
had  lived  among  depraved  men  and  women,  with  fear- 
fully wicked  children,  who  vexed  his  righteous  soul 
from  day  to  day  with  their  filthy  conversation  and  un- 
lawful deeds.  2  P,eter  ii.  4-8 ;  Ezek.  xvi.  49,  50 ;  1  Sam. 
iii.  13.  Another  had  all  these  afflictions  and  troubles 
in  one, —  "deep  called  unto  deep,"  but  mark,  all  are 
brought  out  of  them.  It  was  a  dark  cloud,  but  —  glory 
be  to  God  —  it  passed  away;  the  water  was  deep,  but 
they  reached  their  "Father's  house."  Rev.  vii.  9-14; 
Isaiah  xlviii.  IT  ;  John  xiii.  1.  Not  one  of  them  blames 
God  foi  the  road  he  led  them  ;  their  only  cry  is,  "  Unto 
Him  that  loved  us,  and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in  his 
own  blood,  and  hath  made  us  kings  and  priests  unto 
God  and  his  Father;  to  him  be  glory  and  dominion  for- 
ever and  ever.     Amen  " 


60  THE    WARFARE. 

Were  it  not  for  the  furnace  of  affliction,  what  would 
becotne  of  the  Christian's  dross  and  alloy  ?  And  when 
the  silver  is  in  the  crucible  the  Refiner  himself  comes 
near,  "  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  behold  I  will  melt  them 
and  try  them,  for  how  shall  I  do  for  the  daughter  of  my 
people."  Jer.  ix.  Y.  "I  will  turn  My  hand  upon  thee, 
and  purely  purge  aw^ay  thy  dross,  and  take  away  all  thy 
tin."  Isaiah  i.  25;  Dan.  xii.  10;  Matt.  xiii.  43.  Does 
the  craftsman  throw  the  precious  metals  into  the  fire 
and  forget  them  ?  No ;  they  are  too  costly.  He  is 
anxious  and  careful  respecting  them.  He  sits  patiently 
at  the  door  of  the  furnance  intently  watchful.  As  soon 
as  he  sees  his  own  face  reflected  from  the  molten  metal 
within,  he  knows  that  the  process  has  been  successful, 
and  he  abates  the  fury  of  the  flames.  So  does  Jesus 
watch  the  furnace  of  affliction  in  which  his  people  are 
being  purified,  not  allowing  them  to  suffer  injury  and 
loss,  but  only  waiting  to  see  his  own  image  reflected  in 
their  hearts. 

Sanctified  afflictions  are  spiritual  promotion.  Suffer- 
ing has  kept  tens  of  thousands  of  the  children  of  God 
from  sinning.  "  How  kindly  has  God,"  says  the 
lamented  Rev.  Robert  M.  M'Cheyne,  of  Dundee,  Scot- 
land, "  thwarted  me  in  every  instance  where  I  sought 
to  enslave  myself.  I  will  learn  at  last  to  glory  in  dis- 
appointments." "  Blessed,"  says  the  Psalmist,  "is  the 
man  whom  Thou  chasteneth,  and  teachest  him  out  of 
thy  law.  It  is  good  for  me  that  I  have  been  afflicted  ; 
that  I  might  learn  Thy  statutes.     Before  I  was  afflicted 


THE    WARFARE.  61 

1  went  astray,  but  now  I  have  kept  Thy  word."  Psalm 
exix.  GY-75  ;  Deut.  viii.  5,  6.  "  Blessed  is  the  man  that 
endureth  temptation  ;  for  wiien  he  is  tried,  he  shall 
receive  the  crown  of  life,  which  the  Lord  hath  promised 
to  them  that  love  him." 

Disciples  of  a  suffering  Saviour,  count  on  suffering ; 
reckon  it  not  as  a  strange  thing  that  you  should  be 
attacked  by  Satan  and  his  emissaries  —  Belial  and  his 
sons.  John  viii.  44  ;  Eph.  ii.  2.  You  shall  be  more  than 
conquerors  through  Him  that  loved  you.    1  Cor.  xv.  57; 

2  Cor.  ii.  14  ;  2  Tim.  iv.  i ,  8.  The  Lord  knows  the 
sorrows  of  his  people.  Exod.  iii.  t  ;  Judges  x.  16.  He 
weeps  with  them.  In  all  their  afflictions  he  is  afflicted. 
He  is  touched  with  the  feelings  of  their  griefs  as  well  as 
of  their  infirmities.  How  often  does  he  come  to  us  as 
he  did  to  the  disciples  in  that  midnight  hour  when  all 
seemed  lost  —  "in  the  fourth  watch  of  the  night,"  when 
w^e  least  looked  for  him  ;  or  when  like  the  shipwrecked 
Apostle,  "for  days  together  neither  sun  nor  stars  ap- 
peared and  no  small  tempest  lay  on  us  ;  when  all  hope 
that  we  should  be  saved  seemed  to  be  taken  away,"  how 
often  just  at  that  moment  has  his  sweet  voice  been 
heard  floating  over  the  billows,  saying,  "  Be  of  good 
cheer:  it  is  I ;  be  not  afraid."  John  vi.  20;  Isaiah  Hi. 
0.  It  is  the  same  brief  utterance  with  which  he  calmed 
the  storm-tossed  children  of  God  in  every  age.  "If  the 
Lord,"  says  the  Psalmist,  "had  not  stood  by  me,  the 
deep  waters  would  have  gone  over  my  soul."  The  Lord 
never  forsakes  those  who  love  him,  "  with  the   whole 

G 


62  THE    WAR  FAKE. 

heart,"  and  do  that  which  is  right  in  his  sight.  Heb. 
xiii.  5  ;  Isaiah  xHii.  1,  2.  "  Can  a  woman  forget  her 
sucking  child,  that  she  should  not  have  compassion  on 
the  son  of  her  womb?  yea,  they  may  forget,  yet  will  I 
not  forg-et  thee." 


'&' 


Every  human  tie  may  perisli ; 

Friend  to  friend  unfaithful  prove  ; 
Mothers  cease  their  own  to  cherish  ; 

Heaven  and  earth  at  last  remove  ; 
But  no  changes 

Can  attend  Jehovah's  love. 

In  the  furnace  God  may  prove  thee. 

Thence  to  bring  thee  forth  more  bright, 

But  can  never  cease  to  love  thee  ; 
Thou  art  precious  in  his  sight : 

God  is  with  thee  — 
God,  thine  everlasting  Light. 

The  Lord  often  brings  those  who  come  to  him  into 
untried  places,  that  they  may  seek  out  the  guiding 
pillar,  and  prize  its  radiance.  He  puts  them  on  the 
darkening  waves,  that  they  may  follow  the  guiding 
light  hung  out  astern  from  the  only  Bark  that  was  ev^r 
proof  against  the  storm.  How  does  he  quiet  their  fears 
and  misgivings  ?  As  they  stand  panting  on  the  bleak 
mountain  side,  he  points  his  crook  to  the  shining  gates 
of  glory,  and  says,  "  Fear  not,  little  flock  ;  it  is  your 
Father's  good  pleasure  to  give  you  the  kingdom." 
What  gentle  words !  what  a  blessed  consummation  I 
And  when  they  stand  on  the  verge  of  the  grave.  He 
says,  "Fear  not," for  "My  presence  shall  go  with  thee." 


THE   WARFARE.  63 

"When  thou  passest  through  the  waters,  I  will  be  with 
thee,  and  through  the  rivers,  they  shall  not  overflow 
thee  :  when  thou  walkest  through  the  fire,  thou  shalt 
not  be  burned,  neither  shall  the  flame  kindle  upon  thee  ; 
for  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God,  the  Holy  One  of  Israel,  thy 
Saviour." 

The  life  of  the  Christian  is  a  life  of  faith  His  spirit 
is  brought,  by  faith,  into  communion  with  the  life  of 
heaven  ;  a  life  which  ^nly  he  who  feels  it  knows.  Eph. 
iii.  18,  19  ;  1  John  iv.  4.  This  communion  is  shadowed 
forth  in  Scripture  in  such  passages  as  these :  "  The 
Secret  of  the  Lord  is  with  them  that  fear  him."  Psalm 
XXV.  14  ;  John  xiv.  21-23.  "  In  Thy  Light  shall  we  see 
light."  Psalm  xxxvi.  9.  "But  we  have  this  Treasure  in 
earthen  vessels,  that  the  excellency  of  the  power  may 
be  of  God,  and  not  of  us."  2  Cor.  iv.  7.  "  We  have  also 
a  more  sure  word  of  prophecy,  whereunto  ye  do  well 
that  ye  take  heed,  as  unto  a  Light  that  shineth  in  a 
dark  place,  until  the  day  dawn,  and  the  day-star  arise  in 
your  hearts."  2  Peter  i.  19.  "If  ye  then  be  risen  with 
Christ,  seek  those  things  which  are  above,  where  Christ 
sitteth  on  the  right  hand  of  God.  Set  your  affections  on 
things  above,  not  on  things  on  the  earth.  For  ye  are 
dead,  and  your  life  is  hid  with  Christ  in  God.  When 
Christ  who  is  our  life  shall  appear,  then  shall  ye  also 
appear  with  him  in  glory."  "  Put  on,  therefore,  as  the 
elect  of  God,  holy  and  beloved,  bowels  of  mercies,  kind- 
ness, humbleness  of  mind,  meekness,  long-suffering  ;  for- 
bearing one  another,  and  forgiving  one  another,  if  any 


61  THE    WARFARE. 

man  have  a  quarrel  against  any  :  even  as  Christ  forgave 
you,  so  also  do  ye.  And  above  all  these  things  put  on 
charity,  which  is  the  bond  of  pcrfectness.  And  let  the 
peace  of  God  rule  in  your  hearts,  to  which  also  ye  are 
called  in  one  body  ;  and  be  ye  thankful.  Let  the  word 
of  Christ  dwell  in  you  richly  in  all  wisdom  ;  teaching 
and  admonishing  one  another  in  psalms  and  hymns  and 
spiritual  songs,  singing  with  grace  in  your  hearts  to 
the  Lord." 


Ye  faitliful  souls,  who  Jesus  know, . 

If  risen  indeed  with  him  ye  are, 
Superior  to  the  joys  below, 

His  resurrection's  power  declare. 

Your  faith  by  holy  tempers  prove  : 
By  actions  show  your  sins  forgiven: 

And  seek  the  glorious  things  above, 

And  follow  Christ  your  head  to  heaven. 

There  your  exalted  Saviour  see, 
Seated  at  God's  right  hand  again. 

In  all  his  Father's  majesty, 
In  everlasting  pomp  to  reign. 

For  who  by  faith  your  Lord  receive, 
Ye  nothing  seek  or  want  beside ; 

Dead  to  the  world  and  sin  ye  live ; 
Your  creature  love  is  crucified, 

Y^our  real  life  with  Christ  conceal'd 
Deep  in  the  Father's  bosom  lies; 

And  glorious  as  your  Head  reveal'd, 
Ye  soon  shall  meet   him  in  the  skies. 


THE    WARFARE.  65 

The  Lord  lovos  his  people  too  well  to  make  the  world 
tearless  and  sorrowless.  Be  assured  there  is  a  disguised 
love  iu  all  he  does.  He  knows  us  infinitely  better  than 
we  know  ourselv^es,  and  often  puts  a  "thorn"  in  our  nest 
(o  drive  our  affections  from  things  of  earth.  The  Lord 
chastens  his  own ;  for  the  children  of  wrath  is  reserved 
retribution  in  another  state  of  being.  Job  xxvii.  8-22  ; 
Psalms  xlix.  and  Ixxiii.  Oh  take  courage  ;  the  "  rough 
dealings"  of  to-day  are  an  earnest  of  loving  dealings  by- 
and-by.  It  is  in  this  manner  the  sheep  is  brought  into 
the  fold  by  the  barking  of  the  dog  ;  and  in  this  fashion  the 
ship  is  compelled  by  the  storm  to  make  for  the  nearest 
haven.  "  What  I  do  thou  knowest  not  now ;  ])ut  thou 
shalt  know  hereafter."  Johnxiii.  7;  Isaiah  xlviii.  IT.  The 
darkness  which  you  now  experience  may  be  for  the  pur- 
pose of  extinguishing  in  you  those  false  lights  of  human 
reasoning,  which  oppose  the  hidden  designs  of  God ;  he 
wishes  that  you  should  allow  yourself  to  be  conducted, 
as  one  blind,  by  the  hand  of  his  good  pleasure.  "  For 
the  Lord's  portion  is  his  people ;  Jacob  is  the  lot  of 
his  inheritance.  He  found  him  in  a  desert  land,  and 
in  the  waste  and  howling  wilderness ;  he  led  him 
about,  he  instructed  him,  he  kept  him  as  the  apple  of 
his  eye."  Deut.  xxxii.  9,  10.  Abandon  yourself  then, 
with  the  generosity  of  a  noble  heart,  to  his  guidance. 
You  can  not  have  your  own  pleasure  in  this  world, 
and  afterward  reign  with  Christ.  If  God  sends  you 
great  sufferings,  it  is  a  sign  that  he  is  preparing  you  for 
that  delightful  country, 


6Q  THE    WARFARE. 

Where  all  his  beauties  you  behold, 
And  sing  his  Ucame  on  harps  of  gold. 

The  critical  events  and  great  disappointments  of  the 
Christian's  life,  that  so  stagger  and  amaze  him,  are  not 
so  wonderful  or  mysterious  as  in  his  own  bewildering 
grief  he  is  apt  to  think  them.  The  great  events  of  his 
life  strike  him  with  surprise,"  because  he  fails  to  perceive 
that  God  is  administering  all  things  with  reference  to  a 
spiritual  commonwealth.  We  are  seldom  at  agreement 
with  his  providence ;  or  with  the  spiritual  economy  of 
this  world ;  or  with  the  interests  of  our  being  in  its 
highest  developments.  Yet  we  are  vain,  proud,  head- 
strong, impetuous,  irascible,  impatient  under  restraint, 
and  rebellious  under  discipline.  Is  it  strange,  then,  that 
at  every  step  of  our  Christian  career  we  are  met  by  op- 
posing forces  ?  Amos  iii.  3-6  ;  Levit.  xxvi.  18-30.  Is  not 
every  wise  household  a  microcosmic  moral  government 
where  the  parents  both  please  and  pain  their  children, 
repeating  in  a  minor  sphere,  the  very  administrative  acts 
of  overruling,  denying,  compelling,  paining,  and  punish- 
ing for  their  good,  their  own  children,  as  in  the  greater 
sphere  God  thwarts  and  disciplines  them  ?  This  is  clearly 
stated  in  Deut.  viii.  5  :  "  Thou  shalt  consider  in  thine 
heart  that  as  a  man  chasteneth  his  son,  so  the  Lord  thy 
God  chasteneth  thee.  Therefore  thou  shalt  keep  the 
commandments  of  the  Lord  thy  God,  to  v/alk  in  his 
ways,  and  to  fear  him."  The  same  thing  is  said  in  Ileb, 
xii.  5-8  :  "  And  ye  have  forgotten  the  exhortation  which 
speaketh  unto  you  as  unto  children.  My  son,  despise  not 


THE    WARFARE.  67 

thou  the  chastening  of  the  Lord,  nor  faint  when  thou  art 
rebuked  of  him :  for  whom  the  Lord  loveth  he  chas- 
teneth,  and  scourgeth  every  son  whom  he  receiveth.  If 
ye  endure  chastening,  God  dealeth  with  you  as  with 
sons  ;  for  what  son  is  he  whom  the  father  chasteneth  not  ? 
But  if  ye  be  without  chastisement,  whereof  all  are  par- 
takers, then  are  ye  bastards,  and  not  sons." 

Why  should  we  doubt  a  Father's  love, 

So  constant  and  so  kind  ? 
To  his  unerring,   gracious  will 

Be  every  wish  resigned. 

Good,  when  he  gives — supremely  good, 

Nor  less  when  he  denies ; 
E'en  crosses,  from  his   sovereign  hand. 

Are  blessings   in   disguise. 

We  are  commanded  to  hear  "  the  voice  of  the  rod,  and 
who  hath  appointed  it."  But  man  is  stupid  and  insensi- 
ble with  respect  to  divine  things,  and  divine  teaching. 
God  speaks  plainly,  but  he  will  not  hear.  God  mani- 
fested his  presence  sufficiently  to  the  children  of  Israel 
in  the  wilderness,  but  they  were  slow  in  learning  that 
he  was  ever  with  them,  to  instruct  and  to  bless  them, 
and  that  what  they  suffered  or  enjoyed  proceeded 
from  himself.  How  little  do  professors  of  religion  in 
general,  look  at  the  design  of  God  in  their  trials ! 
They  have  no  solemn  recognition  of  His  all-disposing 
government  and  superintendence ;  no  thought  of  the 
course  of  events,  but  as  regulated  by  something  w^hich 
they    call     "general    law^s,"    and    then    blended    with 


68  THE    WARFARE. 

"  chance  ;"  or  the  afflictions  by  which  they  are  exercised, 
but  as  the  exclusive  results  of  what  is  merely  subordi- 
nate agency.  Like  the  Philistines  in  the  days  of  Eli, 
the}^  do  not  see  the  hand  of  God  in  anything.  1  Sam.  vi. 
9  ;  Amos  iii.  6  ;  Jer.  v.  3-31 ;  Hosea  vii.  2.  But  not  so 
with  the  experienced  soldier  of  Christ;  he  sees  the  hand 
of  God  in  everything.  He  knows  that  in  whatever  way 
an  affliction  may  be  intended  to  operate,  its  object  is  the 
promotion  of  his  welfare.  Job  v.  6,  t ;  Heb.  xii.  4-13  ; 
Kev.  iii.  19 ;  Deut.  viii.  5.  Is  his  body  afflicted,  he  is 
thankful  that  his  mind  continues  vigorous  and  entire. 
Is  he  poor  and  despised,  he  feels  in  his  heart  that  he 
has  the  favor  and  enjoyment  of  God ;  and  can  he  be 
despicable  who  is  favored  with  the  special  friendship  of 
the  sovereign  Majesty  of  the  Universe  ?  Isaiah  Ixvi.  2 ; 
Jer.  ix.  23,  24;  Rev.  ii.  9,  10.  Can  he  be  miserable 
who  has  "  the  Lord  of  glory"  for  his  portion,  who  enjoys 
the  fountain  of  all  happiness,  and  who  has  the  light  of 
God's  countenance  to  cheer  him,  and  the  consolations  of 
the  Divine  Spirit  to  comfort  and  refresh  his  soul  ? 

Intimatel}^  acquainted  with  all  the  circumstances  of 
his  people,  their  age,  situation,  dispositions,  advantages, 
and  temptations,  the  Lord  sees  the  particular  kind  of 
affliction  which  is  needed  for  the  promotion  of  their  wel- 
fare.  He  places  some  of  his  saints  in  the  vale  of  pov« 
erty,  because  he  knows  they  could  not  resist  the  snares 
of  affluence  ; — others  he  deprives  of  bodily  health  ;  some 
he  dooms  to  months  and  years  of  great  adversity  ;  others 
he  bere'aves  of  family  and  friends,  and  leaves  them,  as 


THE    WARFARE.  69 

forlorn  pilgrims,  to  grope  tht'ir  way  to  the  new  Jerusa- 
lem. But,  in  all  these  methods  of  his  providence,  he  is 
guided  by  that  infinite  wisdom  which  prompts  him  to 
study  the  different  characters  of  his  children,  and  to  ap- 
portion that  discipline  to  each  of  them  which  will  best 
secure  the  end  of  all  the  divine  dispensations — the  sal- 
vation of  their  souls.  The  Saviour  himself  was  made 
perfect  through  sufferings ;  and  the  character  of  the 
Christian  is  more  formed  and  improved  by  his  afflictions 
than  by  his  enjoyments.  Psalm  cxix.  6Y,  71,  75  ;  1  Pet. 
V.  8-10.  AlBflietions  are  heavenly  agents,  and  work  out 
for  the  Christian  "  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal 
weight  of  glory."  When  the  afflictions  are  for  right- 
eousness' sake,  for  keeping  a  good  conscience,  for  ad- 
hering to  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  and  for  attachment 
to  his  cause,  they  lose  their  name,  and  become  an  honor 
— a  filling  up  of  the  measure  of  the  Saviour's  suffer- 
ings, and  the  Christian  ''glorifies  in  this  behalf;"  for  he 
knows  that  affliction  has  not  merely  a  blessing  in  it,  but 
it  is,  in  itself,  a  blessing. 

As  in  a  time  of  rain  and  cloud,  the  distant  hills  look 
nearer,  so  do  the  everlasting  hills  of  Glory  appear  in  the 
cloudy  and  dark  day,  nearer,  brighter,  more  glorious. — 
sparkling  with  ten  thousand  rills  of  love  and  covenant 
faithfulness,  unseen  and  unobserved  before. 

Lord  of  our  souls,  thou  Saviour  ever  dear, 
Be  still  our  rainbow  in  the  clouds  of  life ; 

In  thy  pure  sunlight  meet  each  rising  tear, — 
Our  Arc  of  Triumph  in  the  scenes  of  strife. 


70  THE    WARFARE. 

Radiant  with  mercy  calm  the  sinking  heart, 

And  beam  thro'  sorrow's  night,  and  suff'ring's  gloom, 

A  deathless  Iris  that  will  not  depart, 

But  shine  with  hues  unfading  o'er  the  tomb. 

There  would  be  no  Bow  in  the  material  heavens  but 
for  the  cloud.  Lovelier,  indeed,  to  the  eye,  is  the  a/.ure 
blue — the  fleecy  summer  vapors,  or  the  gold  and  Vermil- 
lion of  western  sunsets.  But  what  would  become  of  the 
earth  if  no  dark  clouds  from  time  to  time  hung  over  it; 
distilling  their  treasures — reviving  and  refreshing  its 
drooping  vegetable  tribes  ?  Is  it  otherwise  with  the 
soul?  iv'ay.  The  cloud  of  sorrow  is  needed;  its  every 
rain-drop  has  an  inner  meaning  of  love.  1  Cor.  x.  1-4 ; 
Rom.  xi.  25-33.  Here  we  are  often  baffled  at  the  Lord's 
dispensations;  we  cannot  fathom  his  ways;  —  like  the 
well  of  Sychar,  they  are  deep,  and  we  have  nothing  to 
draw  with.  But — glory  be  to  God — soon  the  mystery 
will  be  finished  ;  the  enigmatical  seals,  with  all  their 
inner  meanings,  opened.  When  that  "  morning  without 
clouds"  shall  break,  each  soul  will  be  like  the  angel  stand- 
ing in  the  sun, — there  will  be  no  shadow ;  all  will  be 
perfect  day  !  Blessed  indeed  shall  the  righteous  be  in 
that  day!  They  shall  shine  like  stars,  no  longer  ob- 
scured with  clouds.  Isaiah  xxv.  7,  8  ;  Dan.  xii.  2,  3 ; 
Mai.  iii.  16,  11 ;  Matt.  xiii.  43.  They  shall  be  beautiful 
as  the  lily,  no  longer  "choked  with  thorns." 

That  joy — that  joy,  is  it  promised  to  me? 
0,  had  I  the  wings  of  a  dove,  I  would  flee, 
And  ne'er  would  I  slacken  or  fold  my  wing, 
Till  I  reached  that  joy's  everlasting  Spring. 


THE    WARFARE.  71 

foolish  he;ivt,   thy   impatience  awhile; 
The  work   of  faith  with  hope's  visions  beguile: 
He  who  would  enter  the  joy  of  his  Lord, 
First  serves — then,  through  grace,  expects  the  reward. 

Yes,  wait  a  little :  scorn  and  contempt  will  soon  be 
over.  Laughter  and  ridicule  shall  soon  have  an  end. 
Slander  and  misrepresentation  will  soon  cease.  Jesus 
shall  come  and  plead  your  cause,  and  then  as  Moses  said 
to  Korah,  "  the  Lord  will  show  who  are  his."  St.  Paul 
longed  to  be  with  Christ,  and  yet  with  quiet  resignation 
to  his  heavenly  Father's  wiU,  he  waited  patiently  until 
his  change  came.  His  constant  prayer  was,  that  Christ 
might  be  honored  in  him,  whether  it  be  by  life  or  by 
death.  When  he  wrote  to  the  Church  at  Philippi  from 
his  prison  at  Rome,  he  said,  "  To  me  to  live  is  Christ, 
and  to  die  is  gain.  But  if  I  live  in  the  flesh,  this  is  the 
fruit  of  my  labor  ;"  (i.  e.,  I  know  that  if  I  continue  here, 
I  shall  gain  more  souls  for  Christ,)  "  but  what  I  shall 
choose  I  know  not,  for  I  am  in  a  strait  between  two, 
having  a  desire  to  depart  and  to  be  with  Christ ;  which 
is  far  better.  Nevertheless,  to  abide  in  the  flesh  is  more 
needful  for  you."  Phil.  i.  20-24.  This  language  beau- 
tifully exemplifies  the  character  of  a  faithful  soldier  of 
Christ. 

My  soul,  never  forget  in  the  dark  night  of  sorrow, 
desertion,  sickness,  and  pain,  that  all  things  are  working 
together  for  thy  good,  even  when  thou  art  suffering 
most.  Be  not  afraid  of  suffering,  "  It  is  enough  for  the 
disciple  that  he  be  as  his  Master,  and  the  servant  as  his 
Lord."     In  the  world,  from  the  world,  all  true  disciples 


72  THE    WAR  FAKE. 

of  Jesus  must  have  tribulation.  "  AVe  glory,"  says  St. 
Paul,  "in  tribulations  also;  kno^Ying  that  tribulation 
worketh  patience  ;  and  patience,  experience :  experience, 
hope ;  and  hope  maketh  not  ashamed,  because  the  love 
of  God  is  shed  abroad  in  our  hearts  by  the  Holy  Ghost 
which  is  given  unto  us."  Says  another  apostle,  "Be- 
loved, think  it  not  strange,  concerning  the  fiery  trial 
which  is  to  try  you,  as  though  some  strange  thing  hap- 
pened unto  you ;  but  rejoice  inasmuch  as  ye  are  par- 
takers of  Christ's  sufferings ;  that,  when  his  glory  shall 
be  revealed,  ye  may  be  glad  also  with  exceeding  joy. 
If  ye  be  reproached  for  the  name  of  Christ,  happy  are 
3^e  ;  for  the  Spirit  of  glory  and  of  God  resteth  upon  you. 
On  their  part  he  is  evil  spoken  of,  but  on  your  part  he  is 
glorified." 

It  is  not  so  much  by  the  symmetry  of  what  the  Chris- 
tian attains  in  this  life  that  he  is  to  be  made  happy,  as 
by  the  enlivening  hope  of  what  he  shall  reach  in  the 
world  to  come.  While  a  man  is  stringing  a  harp,  he 
tries  the  strings,  not  for  music,  but  for  construction. 
When  it  is  finished  it  shall  be  played  for  melodies.  God 
is  fashioning  the  heart  of  every  true  Soldier  of  the  Cross 
for  future  joy.  He  only  sounds  a  string  here  and  there 
to  see  how  far  His  work  has  progressed.  "Behold, 
happy  is  the  man  whom  God  correcteth :  therefore  des- 
pise not  thou  the  chastening  of  the  Almighty:  for  he 
maketh  sore  and  bindeth  up:  he  woundeth,  and  his 
hands  make  whole.  He  shall  deliver  thee  in  six  trou- 
bles: yea,  in  seven  there  shall  no  evil  touch  thee."   Job 


THE    WARFARE.  78 

V.  17-19  ;  Pt^alm  xxxiv.  7-19.  "Though  He  cause  grief, 
yet  will  he  have  compassion  according  to  the  multitude 
of  his  mercies ;  for  he  doth  not  afBict  willingly,  nor  grieve 
the  children  of  men."  Lam.  iii.  32,  33;  Psalm  cvii.  17. 
"  Though  He  slay  me,"  says  Job,  "  yet  will  I  trust  in 
him." 

The  Christian  must  be  perfected  through  conflicts  and 
trials.  St.  Paul,  speaking  of  his  conflicts  and  trials, 
warns  the  brethren  to  hold  fast  their  faith,  and  not  to  be 
moved  by  them,  saying,  "  For  j^ourselves  know  that  we 
are  appointed  thereunto.  For  verily,  when  we  were  with 
you,  we  told  you  before  that  we  should  suffer  tribulation ; 
even  as  it  came  to  pass,  and  ye  know.  For  this  cause 
when  I  could  no  longer  forbear,  I  sent  to  know  your 
faith,  lest  by  some  means  the  tempter  have  tempted  you, 
and  our  labor  be  in  vain.  But  when  Timotheus  came 
from  you  unto  us,  and  brought  us  good  tidings  of  your 
faith  and  charity,  and  that  ye  have  good  remembrance 
of  us  always,  desiring  greatly  to  see  us,  as  we  also 
to  see  you :  therefore,  brethren,  we  were  comforted 
over  3'ou  in  all  our  afflictions  and  distress  by  your  faith : 
for  now  we  live,  if  ye  stand  fast  in  the  Lord.  For  what 
thanks  can  we  render  to  God  again  for  you,  for  all  the 
joy  wherewith  we  joy  for  your  sakes  before  God;  night 
and  day  praying  exceedingly  that  we  might  see  your  face, 
and  might  perfect  that  which  is  lacking  in  your  faith  ?  " 

It  is  no  triumph  of  faith  to  trust  God  for  those  good 
things  which  he  gives  in  hand — this  is  rather  to  walk  by 
sense  than  by  faith  ;  but  to  rely  on  him  in  the  greatest 
7 


74  THE    WAKFAKE. 

destitution,  "  and  against  hope  to  believe  in  hope,"  this 
is  the  faith  of  a  true  child  of  Abraham,  and  will  be  "im- 
puted" to  us — as  to  him—"  for  righteousness."  Rom.  iv. 
22;  Heb.  xi.  8-19.  "  It  is,"  says  Bunyan,  "  as  ordinary 
as  for  the  hght  to  shine,  for  God  to  make  black  and  dis- 
mal dispensations  to  usher  in  bright  and  pleasing  ones ; 
3^ea,  and  the  more  frightful  that  is  which  goes  before,  the 
more  comfortable  is  that  which  follows  after,  *  Weeping 
may  endure  for  a  night,  but  joy  cometh  in  the  morning.'  " 
Those  whom  God  adopts,  he  teaches  and  trains.  He 
leads  them  to  Sinai,  and  shows  them  the  Law,  that  their 
hearts  may  be  broken.  He  leads  them  to  Calvary  and 
shows  them  the  Cross,  that  their  hearts  may  be  cleansed, 
bound  up,  and  healed.  Isaiah  i,  5,  6 ;  Ezek.  xvi.  4-9 ; 
Rev.  iii.  18,  19.  He  leads  them  to  Pisgah,  and  gives 
them  distant  views  of  the  promised  land,  that  their 
hearts  may  be  cheered.  He  takes  them  into  the  wilder- 
ness, that  they  may  see  their  own  emptiness.  He  car- 
ries them  to  Tabor,  and  gives  them  glimpses  of  the  glory 
to  come. 

Oft  I  walk  beneatli  the  cloud, 
Dark  as  midnight's  gloomy  shroud  ; 
But  when  fear  is  at  the  height, 
Jesus  comes,  and  all  is  light: 
Blessed  Jesus,  bid  me  show 
Doubting  saints  how  much  I  owe. 

God  by  chastisement,  lays  his  finger  upon  the  con- 
science and  forthwith  it  starts  into  new  life.  "  If  they 
be  in  fetters,  and  be  holden  in  cords  of  affliction,  then 


THE    WARFARE.  75 

11  (;  .showeth  them  their  work,  and  their  transgressions 
that  they  have  exceeded.  He  openeth  also  their  ear 
to  discipline,  and  commandeth  that  they  return  from 
iniquity."  Job  xxxvi.  8-10.  The  desert-trials  of  the 
Israelites  put  them  to  the  proof;  and  when  proved,  what 
iniquity  was  found  in  them  !  what  sin  came  out  that  had 
lain  hidden  and  unknown  before !  Then  the  heart's 
deep  fountains  were  broken  up,  and  streariis  of  pollution 
came  rushing  out,  black  as  "the  Pit"  itself.  Rebellion, 
unbelief,  fretfulness,  murmurings,  atheism,  idolatry,  self- 
will,  self-confidence,  self-pleasing, — all  burst  out  when 
the  blast  of  the  desert  met  them  in  the  face.  They  had 
not  yet  learned  the  blessedness  of  faith  in  God.  The 
Psalmist,  speaking  of  their  provocations,  says,  "  Our 
fathers  understood  not  Thy  wonders  in  Egypt ;  they  re- 
membered not  the  multitude  of  thy  mercies ;  but  pro- 
voked Him  at  the  sea,  even  at  the  Red  Sea.  Neverthe- 
less he  saved  them  for  his  name's  sake,  that  he  might 
make  his  mighty  power  to  be  known.  He  rebuked  the 
Red  Sea  also,  and  it  was  dried  up  ;  so  he  led  them 
through  the  depths,  as  through  the  wilderness.  And  he 
saved  them  from  the  hand  of  them  that  hated  them,  and 
redeemed  them  from  the  hand  of  the  enemy.  And  the 
waters  covered  their  enemies:  there  was  not  one  of  them 
left.  Then  believed  they  His  words;  they  sung  his 
praise.  They  soon  forgot  his  works,  they  waited  not  for 
Ills  counsel :  but  lusted  exceedingly  in  the  wilderness, 
and  tempted  God  in  the  desert.  And  he  gave  them 
their  request;  but  sent  leanness  into  their  soul." 


76  THE    WAKFAUE. 

There  cannot  be  a  more  certain  presage  of  future 
misery  than  to  counteract  the  afflictive  dispensations  of 
God.  Then  he  turns  his  rod  into  a  scorpion,  and  fulfils 
the  threatenings,  "  If  ye  will  not  be  reformed  by  Me, 
then  will  I  walk  contrary  unto  you,  and  will  punish  you 
yet  seven  times  for  your  sins."  The  first  blow  is  gentle, 
it  affects  the  man's  property  only ;  if  he  remain  unim- 
pressed and  unhumbled,  God  then  enters  his  house  and  be- 
reaves him  of  a  darling  child — perhaps  a  second — a  third; 
he  next  smites  his  wife,  and  she  is  made  to  waste  away 
before  him  by  slow  and  consuming  disease ;  he  then 
visits  him  with  some  severe  bodily  affliction :  he  is  laid 
upon  a  bed  of  pain  and  languishing;  he  is  made  to  feel 
in  solitude  the  extent  of  his  bereavements,  and  time  is 
given  him  for  reflection ;  after  this  He  stripes  his  con- 
science,—  his  heart  is  filled  with  bitterness;  he  has  a 
wounded  spirit  that  he  cannot  bear;  his  life  becomes 
burdensome ;  he  is  afraid  to  die,  and  sickens  at  the 
thought  of  existence.  If  in  all  this  he  turns  not  unto 
God,  with  weeping  and  mourning,  but  sins  yet  more  and 
more,  then  he  casts  him  into  hell.  Prov,  xxix.  1 ;  Psalm 
ix.  lY;  xi.  6;  Ixxiii.  5-20.  "Thou  hast  forsaken  me, 
saith  the  Lord,  thou  art  gone  backward :  therefore  will  I 
stretch  out  my  hand  against  thee,  and  destroy  thee;  I 
am  weary  with  repenting.'' 

It  is  said  of  Jehoram,  king  of  Israel,  that  the  Lord 
smote  his  people,  his  children,  his  wives,  and  his  goods. 
"And  after  all  this  the  Lord  smote  him  in  his  bowels 
with  an  incurable  disease.     And  it  came  to  pass,  that  in 


THE    WARFARE.  77 

proccsH  of  time,  after  the  end  of  two  years,  his  bowels 
fell  out  l)y  reason  of  his  sickness;  so  he  died  of  sore  dis- 
ease." 2  Kings  xxi.  14^10.  And  all  this  befell  him, 
because  he  had,  like  Ahab,  Jezebel,  Ahaziah,  and  Atha- 
lia,  "sold  himself  to  work  evil  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord." 
Take  the  disciples  of  Christ  for  an  example  of  suffering 
and  patience.  "Giving  no  offence  in  anything,"  says  St. 
Paul,  "that  the  ministry  be  not  blamed  ;  but  in  all  things 
approving  ourselves  as  the  ministers  of  God,  in  much 
patience,  in  afflictions,  in  necessities,  in  distress,  in 
stripes,  in  imprisonments,  in  tumults,  in  labors,  in  watch- 
ings,  in  fastings ;  by  pureness,  by  knowledge,  by  long- 
suffering,  by  kindness,  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  by  love  un- 
feigned, by  the  word  of  truth,  by  the  power  of  God,  by 
the  armour  of  righteousness  on  the  right  hand  and  on 
the  left,  by  honor  and  dishonor,  by  evil  report  and  good 
report:  as  deceivers,  and  yet  true  ;  as  unknown,  and  yet 
well  known ;  as  dying,  and,  behold,  we  live ;  as  chas- 
tened, and  not  killed  ;  as  sorrowful,  yet  alw^ays  rejoicing; 
as  poor,  yet  making  many  rich  ;  as  having  nothing,  yet 
possessing  all  things."  2  Cor.  vi.  3-10;  Jer.  ix.  23,  24; 
Rev.  xxi.  7.  "  Even  to  this  hour  we  both  hunger  and 
thirst,  and  are  naked,  and  are  buffeted,  and  have  no  cer- 
tain dwelling-place ;  and  labor,  working  with  our  own 
liands.  Being  reviled,  we  bless ;  being  persecuted,  we 
suffer  it;  being  defamed,  we  entreat:  we  are  made  the 
filth  of  the  world,  and  are  the  off-scouring  of  all  things 
unto  this  day."  1  Cor.  iv.  11-13;  John  xv.  11-25.  "Of 
the  Jews  five  times  I  received  forty  stripes  save  one; 


78  THE   WARFARE. 

thrice  was  I  beaten  with  rods  ;  once  was  I  stoned ;  thrice 
I  suffered  shipwreck;  a  night  and  a  day  have  I  been  in 
the  deep  ;  in  journeyings  often ;  in  perils  of  waters ;  in 
perils  of  robbers ;  in  perils  of  my  own  countrymen ;  in 
perils  by  the  heathen  ;  in  perils  in  the  city ;  in  perils  in 
the  wilderness ;  in  perils  in  the  sea ;  in  perils  among 
false  brethren ;  in  weariness  and  painfulness ;  in  watch- 
ings  often  ;  in  hunger  and  thirst,  in  fastings  often ;  in 
cold  and  nakedness.  Besides  those  things  that  are  with- 
out, that  which  cometh  upon  me  daily,  the  care  of  all  the 
Churches."  "  In  Damascus  the  Governor,  under  Aretas, 
the  king,  kept  the  city  of  the  Damascenes  with  a  garri- 
son, desirous  to  apprehend  me :  and  through  a  window, 
in  a  basket  was  I  let  down  by  the  wall,  and  escaped  his 
hands." 

In  another  place,  he  says,  "Nay,  in  all  these  things 
we  are  more  than  conquerors  through  Him  that  loved  us. 
For  I  am  persuaded,  that  neither  death  nor  life,  nor 
angels,  nor  principalities,  nor  powers,  nor  things  present, 
nor  things  to  come,  nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other 
creature,  shall  be  able  to  separate  us  from  the  Love  of 
God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord."  Speaking  of 
the  sufferings  of  his  brethren  in  Christ,  he  says,  "  Others 
were  tortured,  not  accepting  deliverance ;  that  they 
might  obtain  a  better  resurrection ;  and  others  had  trial 
of  cruel  mockings,  and  scourgings ;  yea,  moreover  of 
bonds  and  imprisonment :  they  were  sawn  asunder,  they 
were  stoned,  were  tempted,  were  slain  with  the  sword ; 
they  wandered   about   in   sheep-skins,   and   goat-skins; 


THE    WARFARE.  79 

being  destitute,  afflicted,  tormented ;  of  whom  the  world 
was  not  worthy;  they  wandered  in  deserts,  and  in 
mountains,  and  in  dens  and  caves  of  the  earth."  Ileb. 
xi.  35-38.  "  Let  me  go,  for  the  day  breaketh,"  was  the 
language  of  their  hearts.  They  shouted  the  praises  of 
God  on  the  rack,  and  sung  Psalms  and  Hymns  in  the 
flames.  The  secret  kept  from  "  the  world"  no  longer 
remained  a  secret  to  them.  Their  faith,  like  that  of 
Stephen,  faded  into  sight,  and  the  bright  forms  of  minis- 
tering hosts  became  visible. 

St.  Paul  himself,  as  he  approached  the  martyring  axe, 
exclaimed,  "  I  am  now  ready  to  be  offered,  and  the  time 
of  my  departure  is  at  hand,  I  have  fought  a  good  fight. 
I  have  finished  my  course.  I  have  kept  the  faith.  Hence- 
forth there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteousness, 
which  the  Lord  the  righteous  judge  shall  give  me  at  that 
day."* 

Surely  if  the  most  precious  and  lovely  of  God's  child- 
ren have  suffered  all  this,  is  not  that  a  sufficient  proof 

*  St.  Paul  was  beheaded  by  Nero,  in  his  anger  at  the  conver- 
sion of  his  favorite  cup-bearer.  Peter  was  crucified  by  the  same 
tyrant.  Andrew  was  crucified  at  Achia.  James  was  beheaded 
by  Herod  Agrippa.  Philip  suffered  martyrdom  in  Phrygia. 
Bartholomew  suffered  martyrdom  in  Armenia,  Thomas,  called 
Didymus,  was  put  to  death  by  stoning,  in  India.  Matthew  suf- 
fered martyrdom  in  Ethiopia.  James  and  Simon  Zelots  wei-e 
murdered  in  Jerusalem.  Jude  was  put  to  death  by  the  Magi,  in 
Persia.  ]\Iark  died  of  his  wounds  at  Alexandria,  in  Egypt.  Luke 
was  hanged  on  a  tree,  in  Greece.  John,  after  being  preserved 
unhurt,  by  a  miracle,  in  a  caldron  of  boiling  oil,  appears  to  have 
been  the  only  one  of  the  disciples  who  died  a  natural  death,  at  an 
advanced  age. 


80  THE   WARFARE. 

that  this  world  is  not  a  place  of  happincsH,  iior  (earthly 
prosperity  the  reward  of  virtue.  Shall  we,  after  reading 
these  passages  of  Scripture,  complain  of  our  petty  trials  ? 
Shall  we  not  rather  be  thankful  that  our  afflictions  are  so 
light  ? 

Oh  for  that   flame  of    living  fire, 

Which  shone  so  bright  in  saints  of  old; 

Which  bade  their  souls  to  heaven  aspire, — 
Calm  in  distress,  in  danger  bold. 

Where  is  that  Spirit,  Lord,  which  dwelt 

In  Abraham's  breast,   and  seal'd  him  thine  ? 

Which  made  Paul's  heart  with  pleasure  melt, 
And  glow  with  energy  divine  ? 

That  Spirit,   which  from  age  to  age 

Proclaim'd  thy  love,   and  taught  thy  ways  ? 

Brighten'd  Isaiah's  vivid  page, 

And  breathed  in  David's  hallow'd  lays? 

Is  not  thy  grace  as  mighty  now 

As  when  Elijah  felt  its  power ; 
When  glory  beamed  from  Moses'  brow, 

Or  Job  endured  the  trying  hour  ? 

Were  the  Christian's  earthly  course  strewed  with 
flowers,  and  sunbeams  ever  played  around  his  dwelling, 
it  would  lead  him  to  forget  his  wandering  life, — that  he 
is  but  a  sojourner  here.  The  tent  must  at  times  be  struck, 
pin  by  pin  of  the  movable  tabernacle  taken  down,  to 
enable  him  to  say  and  feel  in  the  spirit  of  a  pilgrim,  "I 
desire  a  better  country."  In  that  "country"  the  re- 
deemed sons  and  daughters  of  God  will  praise  him  for 
ever  for  their  sorrows :  so  blessed  shall  they  appear  to 
them,  that  they  shall  wonder  how  they  could  ever  weep 
and  sigh. 


CHAPTER  I^. 

BATTLES  FOUGHT  AND  VICTORIES  WON. 

The  aged  Soldier  of  the  Cross— The  smile  upon  his  wasted  cheek— 
His  prospects  of  eternal  happiness  clear  and  glorious— The  wilderness 
pjigsed— His  Father's  house  in  full  view— Happy  deaths— The  glories  of 
Immanuel's  land— Unspeakable  happiness  of  the  children  of  God- 
Transporting  views  of  the  heavenly  world— The  ministry  of  Angels- 
Delightful  death-bed  scenes— Happy  death  of  a  Sunday-school  scholar— 
His  last  words  to  his  parents  and  sister— His  ''farewell"  to  each— Sees 
his  Saviour— Angels  around  his  bed— Hears  delightful  music— Longs  to 
die— Looks  up  to  Heaven,  smiles,  and  expires  in  his  father's  arms. 

Blessed  is  the  man  whose  love  to  Jesas  hath  become 
confirmed  with  his  years,  so  that  his  "  heart  is  fixed,"  and 
fired,  and  flaming.  He  with  his  grey  hairs  and  venera- 
ble countenance  commands  the  attention  of  all  men  when 
he  speaks  of  Him  whom  he  hath  tried  and  proved 
through  more  than  half  a  century  of  tribulation  mingled 
with  rejoicing.  His  piety  renders  him  a  most  delightful 
companion  ;  his  familiar  acquaintance  with  the  Word  of 
God  has  furnished  his  mind  with  the  most  sublime  sen- 
timents, such  as  Socrates  would  have  listened  to  with 
silent  admiration,  and  Plato  have  heard  with  rapturous 
joy.  He  sees  the  shadows  of  the  evening  drawing  on 
with  "hopes  full  of  immortality;"  and  his  silver  locks 
remind  him  to  pass  his  remaining  days  as  a  pilgrim  with 

(81) 


82  BATTLES    FOUGHT 

his  staff  in  his  hand,  read}-  to  depart.  "  For  these  many 
years,"  to  use  his  own  language,  "  I  hav^e  not  promised 
myself  a  to-morrow."  He  does  not  fear  death,  because 
he  knows  his  Saviour  has  taken  away  its  sting.  1  Cor. 
XV.  55-57  ;  2  Cor.  v.  1-9  ;  Hosea  xiii.  14.  And  oh  what 
happiness  beyond!  Isaiah  Ixiv.  4  ;  1  Cor.  ii.  9  ;  x.  3,  21- 
23  ;  Rev.  xxi.  4-1. 


Mark  but  that  radiance  of  his  eye, 

That  smile  upon  his  wasted  cheek  ; 
They  tell  us  of  his  glory  nigh, 

In  language  that  no  tongue  can  speak. 

We  cannot  look  upon  such  a  man  without  feeling  the 
exceeding  beauty  of  the  expression  of  Solomon  about 
the  hoary  head  found  in  the  way  of  righteousness,  being 
a  "crown  of  glory."  His  prospects  are  clear  and  glori- 
ous beyond  conception.  The  dawn  of  heaven  is  in  his 
heart.  The  wearisome,  dull,  "Enchanted  Ground"  of 
the  earthly  pilgrimage  is  now  passed.  The  darkness 
and  fear  of  death  are  left  behind.  "  Despair  and  Doubt" 
are  not  so  much  as  seen  from  this  happy  region.  Shining 
ones,  unseen  by  all  except  the  dying  saint,  are  hovering 
around.  He  has  reached  the  last  stage  of  a  journey 
which  tends  to  his  "Father's  house."  He  has  passed 
the  wilderness,  and  now  stands  on  Jordan's  bank,  ready 
to  enter  the  promised  land  when  the  waters  of  the  cold 
stream  shall  be  divided.  Through  the  crevices  which 
time  and  affliction  have  made  in  his  earthly  tabernacle, 
the  soul  looks  out  upon  its  eternal  mansions,  and  ex- 
claims, 


AND    VICTORIES    WON.  8o 

There  is  my  bouse  and  portion  fair; 
My  treasure  and  my  heart  are  there. 

Such  a  man  could  say  with  Hugh  ^[ackail,  when  on 
the  scaffold  at  Edinburgh,  in  1666,  "Farewell,  father 
and  mother,  friends  and  relations ;  farewell,  sun,  moon 
and  stars.  Welcome,  God  and  Father ;  welcome,  sweet 
Lord  Jesus  ;  welcome,  blessed  Spirit  of  grace  and  God  of 
all  consolation  ;  welcome,  glory ;  welcome,  eternal  life ; 
w^elcome  death.  0  Lord,  into  thy  hands  I  commit  my 
spirit,  for  thou  hast  redeemed  my  soul,  0  Lord,  God  of 
truth."  He  could  say  with  Baxter,  "  I  bless  God  I  have 
a  well-grounded  assurance  of  eternal  happiness,  and 
great  peace  within."  He  could  say  with  John  Janeway, 
"  0,  my  dear  friends,  that  I  could  let  you  know  what 
happiness  I  enjoy !  0  that  I  could  express  the  thousandth 
part  of  that  sweetness  that  I  now  find  in  Jesus !"  He 
could  say  with  Samuel  Rutherford,  "0  that  my  brethren 
did  know  what  peace  I  have  this  day!  I  shall  sleep  in 
Christ,  and  when  1  awake,  I  shall  be  satisfied  with  his 
likeness.  Oh  !  for  arms  to  embrace  Him  !  Oh  !  for  a 
well-tuned  harp  !"  He  could  say  with  John  Wesley, 
"  The  best  of  all  is,  God  is  with  us." 

Samuel  Rutherford  was  a  Scotch  divine,  who  suffered 
during  the  religious  persecution  in  Scotland,  but  main- 
tained his  strong  integrity  of  character  and  deep-toned 
piety  to  the  last,  and  died  full  of  love  to  God  and  his 
people.  His  last  words  were,  "  Glory,  glory  dwelleth  in 
Immanuel's  land."  The  following  lines  are  made  up 
mostly  of  expressions  of  his  own  : — 


84.  BATTLES    FOUGHT 

The  sands  of  time   are   sinking, 

The  dawn  of  heaven  breaks, 
The  summer  morn  I've  sighed  for  — 

The  fair,  sweet  morn — awakes. 
Dark,  dark  hath  been  the  midnight, 

But  dayspring  is  at  hand; 
And  glory,  glory  dwelleth 

In  Immanuel's  land. 

Oh  !    well   it  is  for  ever  — 

Oh!   well  for  evermore: 
My  nest  hung  in  no  forest 

Of  all  this  death-doomed  shore  ; 
Yea,  let  this  vain   world  vanish. 

As   from  the  ship   the  strand, 
While  glory,  glory  dwelleth 

In  Immanuel's  land. 

There  the  red  rose   of  Sharon 

Unfolds  its  heartmost  bloom, 
And  fills  the   air  of  heaven 

With  ravishing  perfume  : 
Oh !    to  behold  it  blossom. 

While  by  its  fragrance  fanned, 
Where  glory,   glory   dwelleth 

In  Immanuel's  land. 

The  King  there  in  his  beauty, 

Without  a  vail  is   seen ; 
"It  were  a  well-spent  journey, 

Though  seven  deaths  lay  between." 
The  lamb  with  his   fair  army 

Doth  on   Mount  Zion  stand, 
And  glory,  glory  dwelleth 

In  Immanuel's  land  ! 

Oh,  Christ — he  is  the  fountain. 
The  deep,  sweet  well  of  love ! 

The  streams  on  earth   I've  tasted, 
More  deep   I'll  drink  above ; 


AND    VICTORIES    WON.  86 

Thei-e  to   an   ocean  fulness 

His  mercy  doth  expand, 
And  glory,  glory  dwelleth 

In  Immanuel's  land. 

Oft  in  yon    sea-beat   prison,* 

My  Lord   and  I   held  tryst; 
For  Anworthf  was  not  heaven. 

And  preaching  was  not  Christ. 
And  aye  ray  murkiest  storm-cloud 

Was  by  a  rainbow  spanned, 
Caught  from  the  glory  dwelling 

In  Immanuel's  land. 

But  that  he  built  a  heaven 
Of  his  surpassing  love — 
A  little  New  Jerusalem, 
Like  to  the  one  above — 
*'Lord,  take  me  o'er  the  water," 

Had  been  my  loud  demand ; 
*'  Take  me  to  love's  own  country, 
Unto  Immanuel's  land  !" 

But  flowers  need  night's  cool  darkness, 

The  moonlight  and  the  dew ; 
So  Christ,  from  one  who  loved  it, 

His  shining  oft  withdrew. 
And  then  for  cause  of  absence 

My  troubled  soul  I  scanned; 
But  glory  shadeless  shineth 

In  Immanuel's  land. 

The  little  birds  of  Anworth — 

I  used  to  count  them  blest; 
Now  beside  happier  altars 

I  go  to  build  my  nest: 
O'er  these  there  broods  no  silence; 

No  graves  around  them  stand ; 
For  glory  deathless  dwelleth 

In  Immanuel's  land. 

*  At  St.  Andrew's.  f  His  parisb. 


S^'  BATTLES    FOUGHT 

Fair  Anwortli  by  the  Solway, 

To  me  thou  still  art  dear: 
E'en  from  the  verge  of  heaven 

I  drop  for  thee  a  tear. 
Oh  !  if  one  soul  from  An  worth 

Meet  me  at  God's  right  hand, 
My  heaven  will  be  two  heavens, 

In  Immanuel's  land. 

I've  wrestled  on  toward  heaven, 

'Gainst  storm,  and  wind,  and  tide; 
Now,  like  a  weary  traveller, 

That  leaneth  on  his  Guide, 
Amid  the  shades  of  evening. 

While  sinks  life's  lingering  sands, 
I  hail  the  glory  dawning 

In  Immanuel's  land. 

Deep  waters  crossed  life's  pathway, 
The  hedge  of  thorns  was  sharp  ; 

Now  these  lie  all  behind  me : 

"Oh!  for  a  well-tuned  harp!" 

Oh!  to  join  Hallelujah 

With  yon  triumphant  band. 

Who  sing  where  glory  dwelleth, 
In  Immanuel's  land. 

With  mercy  and  with  judgment 

My  web  of  time  he  wove, 
And  aye  the  dews  of  sorrow 

Were  lustred  in  his  love. 
I'll  bless  the  hand  that  guided, 

I'll  bless  the  heart  that  planned. 
When  throned  where  glory  dwelleth, 

In  Immanuel's  land. 

Soon  shall  the  cup  of  glory 

Wash  down  earth's  bitterest  woes; 

Soon  shall  the  desert  brier 
Break  into  Eden's  rose  ; 


AND    VICTORIES    WON.  87 

The  curse  shall  cliange  to  blessing, 

The  name  on  earth  that's  banned 
Be  graven  on  the  White  stone, 

In  Immanuers  land. 

Oh!  I  am  my  Beloved's, 

And  my  Beloved  is  mine! 
He  brings  a  poor,  vile  sinner 

Into  his  house  of  wine.* 
I  stand  upon  his  merit; 

I  know  no  safer  stand, 
Not  even  where  glory  dwelleth, 

In  Imraanuel's  land. 

I  shall  sleep  sound  in  Jesus, 

Filled  with  his  likeness  rise. 
To  love  and  to  adore  him, 

To  see  him  with  these  eyes ; 
'Tween  me  and  resurrection 

But  Paradise  doth  stand, 
Then — then  for  glory,  dwelling 

In  Immanuel's  land. 

The  bride  eyes  not  her  garment, 

But  her  dear  Bridegroom's  face: 
I  will  not  gaze  at  glory. 

But  at  my  King  of  grace; 
Not  at  the  crown  he  giveth, 

But  on  his  pierced  hands; 
The  Lamb  is  all  the  glory 

Of   ImnianueFs  land. 

I   have  borne  scorn  and  hatred, 

I  have  borne  wrong  and  shame, 
Earth's  proud  ones  have  reproached  me 

For  Christ's   thrice   blessed  name. 
Where  God's  seals  set  fairest. 

They've  stamped  their  foulest  brand  ; 
But  judgment  shines  like  noon-day 

In   Immanuel's  land. 

*  See  Cant.  ii.  1-4;  v.  1,  2;  Matt.  xxvi.  26-2S ;  Eph.  iii.  i;i-19;  and  Rev.  iii.  20; 
xxi.  4. 


88  BATTLES    FOUGHT 

They've   summoned  me  before  them, 

But  there  I  may  not  come  ; 
My  Lord  says,  "  Come  up  hither  ;** 

My  Lord  says,  "Welcome  home;*' 
My  kingly  King  at  his  white   throne 

My  presence  doth  command, 
Where  glory,  glory  dwelleth 

In  Immanuel's  land. 

0  what  happiness  to  be  a  child  "of  God  I  He  has 
meat  and  drink  which  the  world  knoweth  not  of.  Weep 
not  for  those  who  have  departed  to  be  with  Christ.  It 
is  with  them  "far  better."  They  sleep  in  Jesus.  Isaiah 
Ivii.  1,  2  ;  Rev.  xiv.  13.  Seek  not  "  the  living  among 
the  dead."  Think  rather  that  the  last  sigh  was  scarcely 
over  on  earth,  when  the  song  of  triumph  was  begun  in 
heaven.  1  Thes.  iv.  15  ;  John  v.  25.  0  hear  that  sweet 
voice,  coming  down  in  heaven's  delightful  music,  saying, 
"  If  ye  loved  Me  ye  would  rejoice  because  I  said,  I  go 
unto  the  Father." 

The  martyrs  rejoiced  in  their  last  moments.  Heaven 
seemed  to  be  opened  to  them,  and  such  was  their  view 
of  the  heavenly  world,  that  they  even  triumphed  amid 
the  agonies  of  death.  They  suffered  everything  that 
human  malice  could  inflict,  but  they  suffered  patiently, 
and  died  triumphantly.  They  shouted  the  praises  of 
God  in  their  last  moments ;  they  were  happy  in  the 
flames.  This  has  encouraged  and  animated  the  saints 
of  God  in  every  age  of  the  world,  many  of  whom  have 
been  permitted  to  behold  their  heavenly  inheritance, 
even  before  the  spirit  had  left  the  body.  James  Bain- 
ham,  when  his  arms  and  legs  were  half  consumed,  ex- 


AND    VICTORIES   WON.  89 

claimed :  "  Ye  look  for  miracles  1  Here  now,  ye  may  see 
one.  This  fire  is  a  bed  of  roses  to  me  I  "  James  Ilawkes, 
another  Christian  martyr,  was  entreated  by  his  friends 
to  give  them  some  token  that  the  fire  was  not  so  intole- 
rable but  that  a  Christian  might  keep  his  mind  quiet  and 
patient  —  he  assented ;  and,  if  so,  he  promised  he  would 
lift  his  hands  above  his  head  before  he  died.  An  eye- 
witness states  that  "  at  the  stake  he  mildly  addressed 
himself  to  the  flames,  and  when  his  speech  was  taken 
away,  and  his  fingers  consumed,  so  that  all  thought  him 
dead,  he,  in  remembrance  of  his  promise,  suddenly  lifted 
up  his  burning  hands  and  clapped  them  together  three 
times,  as  if  in  great  joy!" 

The  venerable  Samuel  Walker,  when  near  death, 
uttered  the  following  rapturous  expressions :  "  I  have 
been  upon  the  wings  of  the  Cherubim ;  heaven  has,  in  a 
manner,  been  opened  to  me ;  I  shall  soon  be  there,  and 
am  only  sorry  that  I  cannot  take  you  with  me.  0,  my 
friends,  had  I  strength,  I  would  tell  you  such  new^s  as 
would  rejoice  your  souls  ;  I  have  such  views  of  heaven  !  " 
Augustus  M.  Toplady  exclaimed,  in  his  last  moments, 
"  0  how  this  soul  of  mine  longs  to  be  gone ;  like  a  bird 
imprisoned  in  a  cage,  longs  to  take  its  flight !  0  what  a 
day  of  sunshine  this  has  been  to  me  !  1  have  not  words 
to  express  it ;  it  is  unutterable  !  "  Dr.  Doddridge,  when 
near  death,  said :  "  Such  delightful  and  transporting 
views  of  the  heavenly  world  as  my  Father  is  now  in- 
dulging me  with,  no  words  can  express."  Dr.  Bateman, 
a  Christian  Thvsician,  said  a  little  before  he  died:  "I 


90  BATTLES    FOUGHT 

can  hardly  distinguish  whether  this  is  langour  or  drowsi- 
ness w^hic'h  has  come  over  me ;  but  it  is  a  very  agreeable 
feeling;"  and,  dying,  he  exclaimed,  "What  glory!  the 
angels  are  waiting  for  me !  Lord  Jesus,  receive  my 
soul !  —  farew^ell !" 

The  ministry  of  angels  is  not  a  dream  of  the  imagina- 
tion. (See  Heb.  i.  14  ;  and  1  Cor.  iv.  9.)  No,  it  unfolds 
itself  in  beautiful  reality,  in  scenes  acted,  throughout  the 
Sacred  Volume.  Look  at  Elijah,  faint  and  weary  in  the 
desert.  His  prayer  is  uttered,  "  Take  now  away  my  life, 
O  Lord;"  and  he  sinks  heavily  oppressed  with  grief, 
to  sleep.  Saw  you  that  touch,  so  light,  so  gentle,  that 
awoke  his  slumber?  It  was  an  angel.  That  angel's 
visit  gives  him  strength,  and  he  pursues  his  journey. 
Again  it  is  night.  The  shepherds  are  in  the  fields, 
watching  their  flocks.  The  angel  of  the  Lord  descends. 
Yea,  a  multitude  of  angels  proclaim,  in  one  great  shout 
of  praise,  the  birth  of  Jesus,  "  Fear  not ;  behold  we  bring 
good  tidings  of  great  joy  to  you  and  to  all  people ;  for 
unto  you  is  born  this  day  in  the  city  of  David  a  Saviour, 
which  is  Christ  the  Lord."  Then  that  mighty  chorus, 
unheard  of  by  men  since  the  fall  in  Eden,  rang  through 
the  arches  of  Heaven,  and  sounded  abroad  over  the  wil- 
derness of  Judea,  "  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  on  earth 
peace  ;  good-will  to  men  ;  "  and  ever  since  salvation  has 
been  preached  through  the  blood  of  a  crucified  Saviour, 
and  ever  since  wherever  and  whenever  the  Gospel  has 
triumphed,  there  has  been  "joy  in  heaven." 

The  pious  John   Holland,   an    old   Puritan    minister, 


AND    VICTORIES    WOX.  91 

while  listening  in  his  dying  hours  to  the  reading  of  the 
8th  Chapter  of  Romans,  cried  out,  "  Oh,  stay  your  read- 
ing! What  brightness  is  that  I  see  ?  On  being  told  it 
was  the  sunshine,  he  exclaimed,  "Sunshine!  Nay,  it  is 
my  Saviour's  shine  !  Farewell,  world  !  Welcome,  hea- 
ven !  The  Day-star  from  on  high  hath  visited  my  heart. 
Oh,  speak  it  when  I  am  gone  and  preach  it  at  my  funeral, 
— God  dealeth  familiarly  with  those  who  love  him.  I  feel 
His  mercy;  I  see  His  majesty;  whether  in  the  body  or 
out  of  the  body,  I  cannot  tell,  God  knoweth;  but  I  see 
things  that  are  unutterable."  Well  might  such  a  man 
exclaim, 

What  music  !  what  light ! 
What  wonders  break  in  on  my  heart,    on  my  sight! 
I  come,   blessed  spirits!   I  hear  you  on  high. 
0,  frail,  faithless  nature!   can  this  be  to  die? 
So  near!  what,  so  near  to  my  Saviour  and  King? 
0,  help  me,  ye  angels,  his  glories  to  sing. 

The  much  lamented  Edward  Payson,  D.D.,  died 
rejoicing  in  hope.  He  said,  "  The  battle  is  fought !  and 
the  victory  won  !  I  am  going  to  bathe  in  an  ocean  of 
purity  and  benevolence  and  happiness,  to  all  eternity ! 
The  celestial  city  is  full  in  view !  Its  glories  beam  upon 
me,  its  breezes  fan  me,  its  odors  are  w^afted  to  me,  its 
music  strikes  upon  my  ear,  and  its  spirit  breathes  into 
my  heart !  Nothing  separates  me  from  it  but  the  river 
of  death,  which  now  appears  as  a  narrow  rill,  which  may 
be  crossed  at  a  single  step,  whenever  God  shall  give  per- 
mission." When  racked  with  pain,  and  near  death,  he 
exclaimed,  "  Oh,  what  a  blessed  thing  it  is  to  lose  one's 


92  BATTLES    FOUGHT 

will !  Since  I  have  lost  my  will  I  have  found  true  hap- 
piness. There  can  be  no  such  thing  as  disappointment 
to  me,  for  I  have  no  desire  but  that  God's  will  may  be 
accomplished."  Again,  "When  I  read  Banyan's  descrip- 
tion of  the  land  of  Beulah,  where  the  sun  shines  and  the 
birds  sing  day  and  night,  I  used  to  doubt  whether  there 
was  such  a  place  ;  but  now  my  own  experience  has  con- 
vinced me  of  it,  and  it  infinitely  transcends  all  my  pre- 
vious conceptions.  I  think  the  happiness  I  enjoy  is  simi- 
lar to  that  enjoyed  by  glorified  spirits  before  the  resur- 
rection.    I  can  find  no  words  to  express  my  happiness." 

John  Wilmot,  Earl  of  Rochester,  left  the  world  ex- 
claiming, ''  0  what  happiness  !  what  unspeakable  glories 
do  I  see !  0  how  I  long  to  die,  and  be  with  my  Saviour !" 
The  Rev.  William  Grimshaw  had  glorious  views  of 
heaven  just  before  he  departed.  He  said,  "  I  am  as 
happy  as  I  can  be  on  earth,  and  as  sure  of  glory  as  if  I 
was  in  it.  I  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  step  out  of  bed 
into  heaven  ;  I  have  my  foot  upon  the  threshold  already." 
Another  dying  Christian  exclaimed,  "  My  soul  longs,  my 
spirit  pants,  to  see  the  God  I  love.  0  is  it  possible  that 
the  One  I  love  can  come  so  near,  can  restore  me  to  him- 
self, and  bring  back  again  the  blissful  days  of  Eden  to 
my  soul  ?     Oh  !  what  glory  ! — blessed  Saviour,  I  come  !" 

Coxe,  in  his  life  of  Fletcher,  says,  that  a  few  days 
before  his  dissolution,  he  appeared  to  have  reached  that 
desirable  point,  where  the  last  rapturous  discoveries  are 
made  to  the  souls  of  the  dying  saints.  Roused,  as  it 
were,  with  the  shouts  of  angels,  and  kindled  into  rap- 


AND    VICTORIES   WON.  93 

ture  with  visions  of  glory,  he  broke  forth  into  a  song  of 
holy  triumph,  which  began  and  ended  with  praises  of 
God's  unfathomable  love.  He  labored  to  declare  the 
secret  manifestations  he  enjoyed ;  but  his  sensations 
were  too  powerful  for  utterance ;  and  after  looking  un- 
utterable things,  he  contented  himself  with  calling  upon 
all  around  him  to  celebrate  that  adorable  love  which  can 
never  be  adequately  expressed.  Jer.  xxxi.  3  ;  Isaiah  Ixiii. 
9;  Zeph.  iii.  IT  ;  Eph.  iii.  18,  19.  This  triumphant  state 
of  mind  was  not  a  transient  feeling,  but  a  state  that  he 
continued  to  enjoy,  with  little  or  no  discernible  inter- 
ruption, to  the  moment  of  his  departure.  While  he 
possessed  the  power  of  speech,  he  spoke  as  one  whose 
lips  had  been  touched  with  a  live  coal  from  the  altar ; 
and,  when  deprived  of  that  power,  his  countenance  dis- 
covered that  he  was  secretly  engaged  in  contemplation 
of  the  joys  of  heaven. 

The  deeply  pious  and  devoted  John  Jane  way,  when 
near  his  journey's  end,  said:  "I  am,  through  mercy, 
quite  above  the  fears  of  death,  and  am  going  unto  Him 
whom  I  love  above  life.  0  that  I  could  let  you  know 
what  I  now  feel !  0  that  I  could  show  what  I  see  !  O 
the  glory,*  the  unspeakable  glory  that  I  now  behold  !  My 
heart  is  full,  my  heart  is  full,  my  heart  is  full ;  Christ 
smiles,  and  I  cannot  choose  but  smile.  Can  you  find  it 
in  your  hearts  to  stop  me,  who  am  now  going  to  the 
complete  and  eternal  enjoyment  of  my  Redeemer  ? 
Would  you  keep  me  from  my  crown  ?  The  arms  of  my 
blessed   Saviour   are    open  to  embrace  me  ;  the  angels 


94:  BATTLES    FOUGHT 

stand  ready  to  cany  my  soul  into  his  bosom  !  0  did  you 
but  see  what  I  see,  you  would  all  cry  out  with  me, 
*  How  long,  dear  Lord  ?  Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come 
quickly  1'"  Remarkable  also  was  the  closing  scene  and 
the  last  words  of  Mr.  Halyburton.  After  expressing,  in 
the  intensity  of  joyful  desire,  his  willingness  to  depart, 
he  exclaimed  in  rapture,  "  This  is  a  miracle,  without 
pain !  And  this  not  the  fancy  of  a  man  disordered  in 
his  brain,  but  of  one  lying  in  full  composure !  Oh, 
blessed  be  God  that  ever  I  was  born !  I  have  a  father, 
and  a  mother,  and  ten  brothers  and  sisters  in  heaven ; 
and  I  shall  be  the  eleventh.  Oh,  blessed  be  the  day 
that  ever  I  was  born !"  When  he  drew  still  nearer  to 
death,  he  said  to  those  around  him,  "When  I  fall  so  low 
that  I  am  not  able  to  speak,  I  will  show  you  a  sign  of 
triumph,  when  I  am  near  glory,  if  I  am  able."  This  he 
did,  by  lifting  and  clapping  his  hands  in  the  most 
triumphant  joy,  Avhen  he  was  speechless  and  in  the 
agonies  of  death !  When  John  Knox,  the  English  Re- 
former, was  asked,  after  he  could  speak  no  more,  if  he 
remembered  the  promises  of  God,  he  raised  his  hand, 
shouted  "  Glory  to  God !"  and  expired. 

These  feelings  of  earnest  expectation  and  ardent  de- 
sire, are  tempered  in  the  believing  soul  by  the  most  per- 
fect resignation  to  the  divine  will :  while  in  the  language 
of  one  inspired  writer  he  prays  that  he  "may  go  over  to 
see  the  good  land;"  in  the  words  of  another  he  submis- 
sively adds,  "All  the  days  of  my  appointed  time  will  I 
wait  till  my  change  come."     His  "heart  is  fixed;"  his 


AND    VICTORIES    WON.  95 

sou]  is  kindled  into  rapture  with  love  to  his  Saviour ; 
and  iu  the  fulness  of  his  joy  —  "joy  unspeakable  and 
full  of  glory,"  he  exclaims,  in  the  words  of  the  Psalmist, 
"Whom  have  I  in  heaven  but  Thee  ?  and  there  is  none 
upon  earth  that  I  desire  beside  Thee,  My  flesh  and  my 
heart  faileth :  but  God  is  the  strength  of  my  heart  and 
my  portion  for  ever." 

"  How  is  it,"  says  the  Rev.  Dr.  Berg,  "  that  the  wicked 
man  in  his  death,  has  no  sound  of  heavenly  melody 
charming  his  ears,  and  no  sight  of  holy  angels,  hovering 
around  his  pillow  ?  Why  is  it,  that  instead  of  these, 
images  of  terror  float  before  his  glaring  eyes  and  fill  his 
soul  with  horror  and  dismay  ?  Is  it  not  because  when 
men  are  dying  the  curtain  of  the  body  is  gradually  lifted 
up,  and  the  soul  hitherto  not  cognizant  of  the  presence  of 
attending  spirits,  looks  out  into  the  eternal  world,  and 
stamps  an  impress  of  its  realities  upon  the  fading  senses  ?" 
(See  Eccles.  v.  6 ;  x.  20 ;  Isaiah  xxv.  t ;  and  2  Kings 
vi.  12.)  "And  when  the  spirit  is  poised  upon  the  con- 
fines of  the  two  worlds,  and  its  heaven  or  its  hell  is 
already  begun,  why  need  we  wonder  that  the  righteous 
man  hath  hope  and  glory  in  his  death,  whilst  the  wicked 
man  trembles  in  overwhelming  terror  and  despair?" 
Eph.  ii.  2  ;  2  Tim.  ii.  26  ;  John  viii.  44  ;  Matt,  xxv,  41-46  ; 
Rev.  xxi.  8.  Ah,  yes;  the  wicked,  alas  for  him  at  that 
awful  moment !  Oh  !  my  soul,  come  not  thou  into  the 
Becret  of  bis  sorrows ! 

In  that  dread  moment,  how  the  frantic  soul 
Raves  round  the  walls  of  her  clay  tenement; 
Runs  to  each  avenue,   and  shrieks  for  help  ; 


yb  BATTLES    FOUGHT 

But  shrieks  in  vain!     How  wishfully  she  looks 
On  all  she's  leaving,  now  no  longer  hers  ! 
A  little  longer ;    yet  a  little  longer ; 
0  !    might  she  stay  to  wash  away  her  stains  ; 
And  tit  her  for  her  passage !     Mournful  sight  I 
Her  very  eyes  weep  blood  ;    and  ev'ry  groan 
She  heaves  is  big  with  horror.     But  the  foe, 
Like  a  staunch  murd'rer,  steady  to  his  purpose, 
Pursues  her  close,  through  ev'ry  lane  of  life ; 
Nor  misses  once  the  track ;    but  presses  on, 
Till  forced  at  last  to  the  tremendous  verge, 
At  once  she  sinks  to  everlasting  ruin! 

We  are  indebted  to  an  esteemed  Christian  friend  for 
the  following  particulars  of  the  death  of  a  Sunday-school 
scholar,  and  member  of  one  of  the  Evangelical  Churches 
of  a  town  in  a  neighboring  State.  The  youth  whose 
happy  death  is  here  referred  to,  was  at  the  time  of  his 
departure  for  his  heavenly  home,  fourteen  years,  three 
months  and  six  days  of  age  : 

A  more  exemplary  life  or  happier  experience  in  death 
than  that  of  the  dear  youth  so  early  called  to  the  tomb, 
has  never  been  met  with  in  one  so  young.  Though  but 
a  short  time  resident  among  us,  his  amiable  disposition 
had  endeared  him  to  the  hearts  of  many  who  witnessed 
the  patience  and  resignation  with  which  he  bore  his 
affliction,  and  who  sympathize  with  the  bereaved  family 
whose  little  circle  death  has  again  entered.  His  disease 
(consumption,  induced  by  scarlet  fever)  was  lingering, 
and  often  accompanied  with  severe  suffering,  yet  no 
murmur  or  complaint  ever  escaped  his  lips,  and  he 
seemed  to  be  calmly  awaiting  his  summons  to  the  skies. 
Christian   friends    who    conversed  with  him  invariably 


AND    VICTORIES    WON.  97 

found  him  in  the  happiest  state  of  mind  ;  but  it  was 
when  he  neared  the  hour  of  his  departure,  that  he  more 
particularly  evinced  the  delightful  influence  of  piety  upon 
the  youthful  heart.  The  evening  preceding  his  death,  a 
most  joyous  feeling  came  over  his  spirit,  which  was 
manifested  by  the  dismissal  of  the  natural  timidity  which 
usually  made  him  appear  quiet  and  reserved,  and  he 
conversed  freely  with  a  number  of  Christian  friends; 
and  so  sweetly  did  he  speak  of  his  present  happy  con- 
dition, and  the  joys  of  that  immortal  state  he  should  so 
soon  enter,  that  those  who  stood  by  his  dying-bed  felt 
indeed  that  it  was  heaven's  gate.  Later  in  the  night,  he 
called  his  father  to  his  bedside,  and  after  speaking  in  re- 
gard to  the  removal  of  his  remains  to  his  favorite  place 
of  burial,  he  said, 

"  My  dear  father,  don't  shed  any  more  tears  for  me. 
Mine  is  a  case  that  calls  for  rejoicing.  I  am  going  to 
my  beloved  Saviour  and  my  dear  brothers."  Here  his 
father  held  up  the  photographs  of  his  brothers,  Alfred 
and  Thomas,  before  him,  and  told  him  he  would  soon  be 
with  them  in  heaven,  to  part  no  more.  He  seemed 
pleased,  and  said,  "My  dear  father,  put  my  arms  around 
your  neck."  *******  j^^d  then  added,  "  0  God 
of  love,  bless  my  dear  father,  who  has  prayed  for  me, 
and  with  me,  and  given  me  such  good  counsel  all  my 
life ;  forsake  him  not  nor  leave  him,  but  stand  by  him  in 
all  his  trials,  in  every  affliction,  in  every  temptation." 
Here  he  became  exhausted,  but  soon  rallied,  and  said, 
"  My  dear  father,  when  tempted,  pray  for  more  grace ; 
9 


yy  BATTLES    FOUGHT 

and  when  anything  goes  wrong,  don't  fret  or  scold,  but 
look  to  Jesus."  Here  he  again  kissed  his  father;  and 
then  stretching  out  his  emaciated  hands,  his  countenance 
beaming  with  joy,  and  his  eyes  fixed  on  some  heavenly 
scene,  he  exclaimed,  "  Glory  !— praise  Him  !"  He  was 
unable  to  say  more,  but  after  an  interval  of  a  few 
minutes,  added,  "I  hear  heavenly  music!  0,  I  see 
angels! — they  are  waiting  for  me!  All  fear  of  death 
has  vanished !  Mother,  did  you  hear  that  ? — my  Saviour 
called  me  ! — raise  me  up  !  raise  me  up  !  Keep  thy  pre- 
sence. Lord." 

Here  he  called  upon  his  parents  and  sister,  Mary 
Elizabeth,  to  look  at  the  beautiful  angels  around  his  bed, 
and  to  listen  to  their  sweet  music.  He  then  affection- 
ately addressed  his  Mother,  and  afterward  his  sister, 
counseling  her  to  avoid  the  company  of  wicked  children, 
and  always  to  be  obedient  to  her  parents,  and  asking  to 
be  left  alone,  (there  being  several  Christian  friends  in 
the  room,)  he  offered  a  most  touching  and  eloquent 
prayer  for  her  preservation  from  evil,  and  that  she  might 
become  "  a  bright  and  shining  light  in  the  Church  of 
Christ,"  and  that  they  might  "  meet  in  heaven."  Upon 
being  asked  if  he  had  any  fears  of  death,  he  replied, 
"No;  all  is  peace, — I  am  prepared  to  go."  Here  he 
began  to  sink,  but  prayed  for  strength  to  enable  him  to 
speak  to  his  parents,  sister,  and  friends,  and  soon  rallied, 
and  said,  "0  praise  the  Lord! — 0,  my  Saviour!  0,  I 
am  so  happy!"  Here  he  was  exceedingly  happy  in 
Christ.     Indeed,    his    heart    seom(>d    to    be  overflowing: 


AND    VICTORIES    WON.  99 

with  love  to  God,  and  to  all  around  him  ;  and  in  this 
state  of  mind  he  continued  to  the  last  moment  of  his 
life.  At  six  o'clock  on  Friday  evening,  January  6,  1860, 
(and  only  a  few  seconds   before  his   departure  for  his 

heavenly  home,)  he  said,  "  Mother,  my  dear  mo ," 

and  then  reclining  in  his  father's  arms,  and  fixing  his 
eyes  on  the  ceiling  of  the  room,  his  features  beaming 
with  happiness,  he  gently  breathed  his  last,  and  Clinton's 
spirit  flew  to  meet  his  Saviour's  embrace,  and  join  his 
little  brothers  in  the  happy  land. 

A  week  before  Clinton's  departure,  he  requested  to  be 
left  alone  with  his  sister — then  in  the  twelfth  year  of 
her  age,  when  he  spoke  to  her  in  these  words :  "  My 
dear  sister,  the  doctor  says  I  cannot  live  two  days,  and 
I  wish  to  say  a  few  words  to  you  before  I  die.  My  dear 
sister,  give  your  heart  to  God  in  your  early  days.  Your 
brother  will  soon  be  at  home,  and  you  won't  have  any 
brother  to  talk  to  or  play  with  any  more.  Now,  my 
dear  sister,  if  you  don't  give  your  heart  to  God  you  will 
go  to  hell,  and  never  see  your  brothers  in  heaven.  Now 
mind  what  I  have  told  you,  or  you  will  be  sorry  for  it 
when  you  come  to  die.'' 

The  parting  scene  between  Clinton  and  his  parents 
was  exceedingly  affecting.  To  his  father,  he  said, 
"Kiss  me,  my  dear  father,  *  *  *  — farewell,  my  dear 
father, — don't  be  discouraged,  but  be  of  good  cheer; — 
stand  up  for  Jesus, — fight  the  good  fight,  and  meet  me  in 
heaven.  Your  three  sous  will  be  waiting  your  arrival 
on  the  heavenly  shore."     To  his  mother,  he  said,  "Kiss 


100  BATTLES     FOUGHT 

me,  my  dear  mother.  Oh,  my  Saviour,  bless  my  dear  mo- 
ther !  Oh,  my  dear  mother,  I  must  now  leave  you  !  *  *  * 
— farewell,  my  dear  mother  :  meet  me  in  heaven,"  To  his 
sister  he  said,  "  Kiss  me,  my  dear  sister  Mary  Elizabeth, 
*  *  *  — Oh,  my  Saviour,  bless  my  dear  sister,  and  keep 
her  from  the  evil  that  is  in  the  world.  Forsake  her  not, 
nor  leave  her;  but  grant,  O  my  blessed  Lord,  that  she  may 
meet  me  in  heaven, — farewell,  my  dear  sister, — meet  me 
in  heaven."  Here,  turning  to  the  wall,  he  thanked  God 
for  having  strengthened  him  in  this  last  farewell  scene. 

Many  deeply  interesting  articles  on  religious  subjects 
were  found  among  Clinton's  papers,  all  written  in  his  own 
hand.  Some  of  them  bore  the  following  titles : — "  On 
Prayer;"  "  On  the  Family  Altar;"  "On  Private  Prayer;" 
"  On  the  Presence  of  God;"  "  On  Obedience  to  Parents ;" 
"  Lines  to  my  Mother,"  &c.  The  lines  to  his  mother  he 
had  arranged  to  suit  his  own  case,  from  some  printed  verses 
in  his  possession,  as  follows  : — ■ 

CLINTON   TO   HIS   MOTHER. 


My  mother,  my  mother !    0  let  me  depart ! 

Your  tears  and  your  pleadings  are  swords  to  my  heart. 

I  hear  gentle  voices,  that  chide  my  delay ; 

I  see  lovely  visions,  that  woo  me  away. 

My  prison  is  broken,  my  trials  are  o'er  ! 

0  mother,  my  mother,  detain  me  no  more. 


And  will  you  then  leave  us,  my  brightest,  my  best, 
And  will  you  run  nestling  no  more  to  my  breast? 


AND     VICTORIES     WON.  101 

The  summer  is  coming  to  sky  and  to  bower; 
The  tree  that  you  planted  will  soon  be  in  flower ; 
You  loved  the  soft  season  of  song  and  of  bloom ; 
Oh,  shall  it  return  and  find  you  in  your  tomb? 


Yes,  mother,  I  loved  in  the  sunshine  to  play, 
And  to  talk  of  the  birds  and  the  blossoms  all  day ; 
But  sweeter  the  songs  of  the  spirits  on  high. 
And  brighter  the  glories  that  shine  in  the  sky! 
I  see  them,  I  hear  them,  they  pull  at  my  heart ; 
My  mother,  my  mother,  0,  let  me  depart! 


Oh,  do  not  desert  us !     Our  hearts  will  be  drear, 

Our  home  will  be  lonely  when  you  are  not  here. 

Your  little  sister  will  sigh  'mid  her  playthings,  and  say, 

I  wonder  dear  Clinton  so  long  can  delay. 

That  foot  like  the  wild  wind,  that  glance  like  a  star, — 

Oh,  what  would  this  world  be  when  they  are  afar  ? 


This  world,  dearest  mother  !     0,  live  not  for  this  ! 
No,  press  on  with  me  to  the  fulness  of  bliss ! 
And,  trust  me,  whatever  bright  fields  I  may  roam. 
My  heart  will  not  wander  far  from  you  or  from  home. 
Believe  me  still  near  you  on  pinions  of  love ; 
Expect  me  to  hail  you  when  soaring  above. 

MOTHER. 

Well  go,  my  beloved  ;  the  conflict  is  o'er ; 
My  pleas  are  all  selfish,  I  urge  them  no  more. 
Why  chain  yovtr  bright  spirit  down  here  to  the  clod. 
So  thirsting  for  freedom,  so  ripe  for  its  God  ? 
Farewell,  then,  farewell,  till  we  meet  at  the  throne : 
There  love  fears  no  parting  and  tears  are  unknown. 


102  BATTLES  FOUGHT  AND  VICTORIES  WON. 


0  glory  !    0  glory !  what  music !  what  light ! 
What  wonders  break  in  on  my  heart,  on  my  sight ! 

1  come,  blessed  spirits  !    I  hear  you  from  high ! 
O  frail,  faithless  nature,  can  this  be  to  die  ? 

So  near !  what,  so  near  to  my  Saviour  and  King ! 
0,  help  me,  ye  angels,  His  praises  to  sing. 

A  few  moments  before  he  expired,  Edmund  Auger 
said  to  a  friend,  "Do  you  see  that  assembly  who  await 
my  arrival  ?  Do  you  hear  that  sweet  music  with  which 
those  holy  men  invite  me  ?" — "  Let  me  go ! — I  must  go !" 
"How  hard  it  is  to  die  !"  remarked  a  friend  to  an  ex- 
piring believer.  "  O,  no,  no !"  he  replied  ;  "  easy  dying, 
blessed  dying,  glorious  dying !  0,  I  never  thought  that 
such  a  poor  worm  as  I  could  come  to  such  a  glorious 
death  !"  Another  dying  saint  said,  "  All  is  well.  My  sky 
is  clear.  I  am  not  afraid  to  die.  Hark ! — I  hear  singing! 
0  how  sweet !     0  how  delightful ! — Don't  you  hear  it  ?" 

Just  as  the  dying  saint  had  uttered  these  words,  he  ap- 
peared to  be  serenaded  by  invisible  musicians  with  the 
sweetest  strains  that  ever  delighted  mortal  ears.  The  har- 
monious echo  seemed  to  pass  from  room  to  room,  till  it 
came  into  his  chamber,  where,  after  a  short  space,  it  sunk 
away  in  a  gentle  cadence.  The  dear  Christian  friends  that 
were  around  his  dying  bed  felt  that  his  obsequies  were 
now  sung. 


CHAPTER    V. 

PRAYER. 

Prayer  the  life-breath  of  true  religion— What  God  says  of  prayer— 
What  the  saiuts  of  old  did— The  prayers  of  David  and  Daniel— "What 
prayer  did  for  Joshua,  Elijah,  Hezekiah,  and  other  men  of  God — Amazing 
power  of  faithful  prayer — Faith:  definitions  of  it — Wrestling  with  God 
in  prayer — Jacob's  prayer— Praying  "with  strong  crying  and  tears" — 
A  dying  father's  last  prayer  for  his  daughter — Tears— The  Lord  despises 
all  human  strength  in  prayer — The  proud  praying  lions  flung  aside  to  rot 
—"When  I  am  weak,  then  am  I  strong" — Family  worship— Dutiful 
children  blessed — A  dying  father's  last  gift  to  his  daughter — Its  immense 
falue. 

Prayer  is  the  very  life-breath  of  true  religion.     It  is 

one   of  the  first    evidences   that  a  man  is  born  again. 

"  Behold,"  said  the  Lord  to  Ananias,  in  the  day  he  sent 

him  to  Saul,  "  Behold,  he  prayeth."  Acts  ix.  11.    Prayer 

was  the  distinguishing  mark  of  God's  people  in  the  day 

that  there  began  to  be  a  separation  between  them  and 

the  world.     "  Then  began  men  to  call  upon  the  name  of 

the  Lord."     Without   prayer  to   God,  no   soul   can  be 

spiritually  united  to  him.     Prayer  is  the  power  God  has 

placed  in  our  hands  to  raise  our  souls  to  heaven.     It  is 

the    power  we   must   use   in   every  trouble.     Without 

prayer — fervent,  heartfelt  prayer,  there  is  no  salvation. 

"  Call  upon  Me  in  the  day  of  trouble,  and  I  will  deliver 

thee,  and  thou  shalt  glorifv  me."  Psalm  1.  15.     "  Who- 

(103) 


104  PRAYER. 

soever  shall  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord  shall  be  de- 
livered." Joel  ii.  32.  "This  poor  man  cried,  and  the 
Lord  heard  him,  and  saved  him  out  of  all  his  troubles." 
Tsalm  xxxiv.  6  ;  Isaiah  Ixvi.  2.  And  so  it  will  be  with 
every  praying  soul.  "  Surely  I  know  that  it  shall  be 
well  with  them  that  fear  God,  which  fear  before  him  ; 
but  it  shall  not  be  w^ell  with  the  wicked,"  Eccles.  viii. 
12,  13.  "He  shall  judge  the  poor  of  the  people,  he  shall 
save  the  children  of  the  needy,  and  shall  break  in  pieces 
the  oppressor.  He  shall  deliver  the  needy  when  he 
crieth ;  the  poor  also,  and  him  that  hath  no  helper.  He 
shall  spare  the  poor  and  needy,  and  shall  save  the  souls 
of  the  needy ;"  (that  is  to  say,  of  the  poor  and  needy 
who  pray  to  him  in  spirit  and  in  truth,  and  love  him 
with  the  whole  heart ;)  "he  shall  redeem  their  soul  from 
deceit  and  violence :  and  precious  shall  their  blood  be  in 
his  sight."  Psalm  Ixxii.  14;  Prov.  xxii.  23.  "He  that 
toucheth  them  toucheth  the  apple  of  his  eye." 

When  a  true  Soldier  of  the  Cross  stretches  forth  his 
hands  to  his  Father  in  heaven,  in  that  moment  he 
leaves  behind  him  all  terrestrial  pursuits,  and  traverses 
on  the  beams  of  Jesus'  love  the  realms  of  light.  Eph. 
iii.  18,  19;  Psalm  xxxvi.  9..  He  who  can  pray  truly, 
though  languishing  in  deepest  poverty,  is  immensely 
rich  ;  (2  Cor.  vi.  9, 10  ;  Rev.  ii.  9,  10  ;)  while  the  wretch 
who  never  bowed  the  knee  in  prayer  to  God,  though 
proudly  seated  as  monarch  of  nations,  is  of  all  men  the 
most  destitute.  Jer.  ix.  23,  24;  Rev.  iii.  H,  18.  The 
day  is  coming  when  such  men  will  say  to  the  moun- 


PRAYER.  105 

tains  and  rocks,  "  Full  on  us  and  hide  us  from  the  face 
of  Him  that  sitteth  on  the  throne,  and  from  the  wrath 
of  the  Lamb."  In  that  fearful  day,  "  The  wicked  shall 
be  turned  into  hell,  and  all  the  nations  that  forget  God." 
Psalm  ix.  17;  xi.  .G ;  Thess.  i.  7-9.  In  that  day  the 
Lord  will  place  an  impassable  barrier  "  between  him  that 
serveth  God  and  him  that  serveth  him  not." 

Those  who  are  saved,  are  saved  by  prayer ;  and  those 
who  are  damned,  are  lost  because  they  would  not  pray. 
It  is  useless  to  say  you  "  have  no  convenient  place  to 
pray  in."  Any  person  can  find  a  place  private  enough, 
if  he  is  so  disposed.  The  Lord  Jesus  prayed  on  a  moun- 
tain ;  Peter  on  the  house-top ;  Isaac  in  the  field  ;  Na- 
thaniel under  the  fig-tree ;  Jonah  in  the  whale's  belly. 
Daniel  had  all  the  affairs  of  a  kingdom  on  his  hands,  and 
yet  he  prayed  "  three  times  a  day."  His  prayer  on  be- 
half of  himself  and  his  oppressed  and  afflicted  brethren, 
the  children  of  Israel,  is  comprehensive  and  beautiful. 

David  was  ruler  over  a  mighty  nation,  and  he  says, 
"  Evening,  morning  and  at  noon  will  I  pray."  Psalm  Iv. 
17  ;  cxix.  62-75.  "  Oh  that  men  would  praise  the  Lord 
for  his  goodness,  for  his  wonderful  works  to  the  children 
of  men  !  for  he  satisfieth  the  longing  soul,  and  filleth  the 
hungry  soul  with  goodness.  Such  as  sit  in  darkness  and 
the  shadow  of  death,  being  bound  in  affliction  and  iron; 
because  they  rebelled  against  the  words  of  God,  and  con- 
temned the  counsel  of  the  Most  High :  therefore  he 
brought  down  their  heart  with  labor;  they  fell  down, 
and  there  was  none  to  help.     Then  they  cried  unto  the 


106  PRAYER. 

Lord  in  their  trouble,  and  he  saved  them  out  of  their 
distresses  ;  he  brought  them  out  of  darkness  and  the 
shadow  of  death,  and  brake  their  bands  in  sunder." 
Psalm  evii.  8-14.  When  David  himself  was  in  trouble, 
he  prayed  as  follows  : — 

"  Oh  Lord  God  of  my  salvation,  I  have  cried  day  and  night  be- 
fore thee  ;  let  my  prayer  come  before  thee  ;  incline  thine  ear  unto 
my  cry  ;  for  my  soul  is  full  of  troubles  :  and  my  life  draweth 
nigh  unto  the  grave.  I  am  counted  with  them  that  go  down  into 
the  pit:  I  am  as  a  man  that  hath  no  strength  :  free  among  the  dead, 
like  the  slain  that  lie  in  the  grave,  whom  thou  rememberest  no 
more  :  and  they  are  cut  off  from  thy  hand.  Thou  hast  laid  me  in 
the  lowest  pit :  in  darkness:  in  the  deeps.  Thy  wrath  lieth  hard 
upon  me,  and  thou  hast  afflicted  me  with  all  thy  waves.  Thou 
hast  put  away  mine  acquaintance  far  from  me  ;  thou  hast  made 
me  an  abomination  unto  them:  I  am  shut  up,  and  I  cannot  come 
forth.  Mine  eye  mourneth  by  reason  of  affliction:  Lord,  I  have 
called  daily  upon  thee,  I  have  stretched  out  my  hands  unto  thee. 
Wilt  thou  shew  wonders  to  the  dead?  shall  the  dead  arise  and 
praise  thee?  Shall  thy  loving  kindness  be  declared  in  the  grave? 
or  thy  faithfulness  in  destruction  ?  Shall  thy  wonders  be  known 
in  the  dark?  and  thy  righteousness  in  the  land  of  forgetfulness ? 
But  unto  thee  have  I  cried,  0  Lord  ;  in  the  morning  shall  my 
prayer  prevent  thee.  Lord,  why  castest  thou  off  my  soul?  why 
hidest  thou  thy  face  from  me  ?  I  am  afflicted  and  ready  to  die 
from  my  youth  up  :  while  I  suffer  thy  terrors  I  am  distracted. 
Thy  fierce  wrath  goeth  over  me  ;  thy  terrors  have  cut  me  off. 
They  came  round  about  me  daily  like  water  ;  they  compassed  me 
about  together.  Lover  and  friend  hast  thou  put  far  from  me, 
and  mine  accyiaintance  into  darkness."  Psalm  Ixxxviii ;  Job  xix. 
6-19;   Lam.  iii.  1-21. 

In  another  place,  speaking  of  the  prosperity  of  the 
wricked,  his  soul  is  so  full  of  the  dying  love  of  his  blessed 
Lord,  that  he  exclaims  in  rapture,  "  Whom  have  I  in 
heaven  but  thee  ?  and  there  is  none  upon  earth  that  I 


PRAYER.  107 

desire  beside  thee.  My  flesh  and  my  heart  faileth  ;  but 
God  is  the  strength  of  my  heart,  and  my  portion  forever.'' 
Nothing  seems  to  be  too  great,  or  too  difficult  for 
prayer  to  accomplish.  It  has  obtained  things  that 
seemed  utterly  unattainable.  It  has  won  victories  over 
fire  and  water.  It  has  even  made  the  sun  and  moon 
stand  still  until  the  enemies  of  God  were  destroyed. 
Here  is  the  record  : 

"  And  the  men  of  Gibeon  sent  nnto  .Joshua  to  the  camp  of  Gil- 
gal,  saying.  Slack  not  tliy  hand  from  thy  servants  ;  come  up  to 
us  quickly,  and  save  us  and  help  us :  for  all  the  kings  of  the 
Amorites  that  dwell  in  the  mountains  are  gathered  together 
against  us.  So  .Toshua  ascended  from  Gilgal,  he,  and  all  the  peo- 
ple of  war  with  him,  and  all  the  mighty  men  of  valour.  And  tlie 
Lord  said  unto  .Joshua,  Fear  them  not ;  for  I  have  delivered  them 
into  thine  hand ;  there  shall  not  a  man  of  them  stand  before  thee. 
Joshua  therefore  came  unto  them  suddenly,  and  went  up  from 
Gilgal  all  night,  and  the  Lord  discomfited  them  before  Israel,  and 
slew  them  with  a  great  slaughter  at  Gibeon,  and  chased  them 
along  the  way  that  goeth  up  to  Beth-horon,  and  smote  them 
to  Azekah,  and  unto  Makkedah.  And  it  came  to  pass  as  they 
fled  from  before  Israel,  and  were  in  the  going  down  to  Beth- 
horon,  that  the  Lord  cast  down  great  stones  from  heaven  upon 
them  unto  Azekah,  and  they  died  ;  they  were  more  which  died 
with  hailstones  than  they  whom  the  children  of  Israel  slew  with 
the  sword.  Then  spake  Joshua  to  the  Lord  in  the  day  when  the 
Lord  delivered  up  the  Amorites  before  the  children  of  Israel,  and 
he  said  in  the  sight  of  Israel,  Sun,  stand  thou  still  upon  Gibeon, 
and  thou  Moon,  in  the  valley  of  Ajalon.  And  the  sun  stood  still, 
and  the  moon  stayed,  until  the  people  had  avenged  themselves 
upon  their  enemies.  Is  not  this  written  in  the  book  of  Jasher? 
So  the  sun  stood  still  in  the  midst  of  heaven,  and  hasted  not  to  go 
down  about  a  whole  day." 

Prayer  brought  fire  from  the  sky  to  consume  Elijah's 
sacrifice  :  "  And  it  came  to  pass  at  the  time  of  the  offer- 


108  PRAYER. 

ing  of  the  evening  sacrifice,  that  Elijah  the  prophet  came 
near  and  said,  Lord  God  of  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  of  Is- 
rael, let  it  be  known  this  day  that  thou  art  God  in  Israel, 
and  that  I  am  thy  servant,  and  that  I  have  done  all  these 
things  at  thy  word.  Hear  me,  0  Lord,  hear  me,  that 
this  people  may  know  that  thou  art  the  Lord  God,  and 
that  thou  hast  turned  their  heart  back  again.  Then  the 
fire  of  the  Lord  fell,  and  consumed  the  burnt-sacrifice, 
and  the  wood,  and  the  stones,  and  the  dust,  and  licked 
up  the  water  that  was  in  the  trench  ;  and  when  all  the 
people  saw  it,  they  fell  on  their  faces :  and  they  said, 
The  Lord,  he  is  the  God ;  the  Lord,  he  is  the  God.  And 
Elijah  said  unto  them,  Take  the  prophets  of  Baal ;  let  not 
one  of  them  escape.  And  they  took  them :  and  Klijah 
brought  them  down  to  the  brook  Kishon,  and  slew  them 
there." 

"  Take  God  into  thy  counsel,"  says  Gurnall,  "  heaven 
overlooketh  hell.  God  can  at  any  moment  see  what 
plots  are  hatching  there  against  thee."  Psalm  xli.  11; 
•  Prov.  xvi.  7.  Prayer  turned  the  counsel  of  Ahithophel 
into  foolishness.  Prayer  overthrew  the  army  of  Senna- 
cherib. Hezekiah's  prayer  on  that  occasion  is  brief,  but 
comprehensive : — 

"And  Hezekiah  prayed  before  the  Lord  and  said,  0  Lord  God 
of  Israel,  which  dwelleth  between  the  cherubims,  thou  art  the 
God,  even  thou  alone,  of  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth  ;  thou  hast 
made  heaven  and  earth.  Lord,  bow  down  thine  ear  and  hear: 
open,  Lord,  thine  eyes,  and  see :  and  hear  the  words  of  Senna- 
cherib, which  hath  sent  him  to  reproach  the  living  God.  Of  a 
truth,  Lord,  the  kings  of  Assyria  have  destroyed  the  nations  and 
their  lands,   and    have   cast  tlieir   gods  into  the  fire:    for    tliey 


PRAYER.  109 

were  no  gods,  but  the  work  of  men's  liands,  wood  and  stone: 
therefore  they  have  destroyed  them.  Now  therefore,  0  Lord  our 
God,  I  beseech  thee,  save  thou  us  out  of  his  hand,  that  all  the 
kingdoms  of  the  earth  may  know  that  thou  art  the  Lord  God,  even 
thou  only." 

"  Then  Isaiah  the  son  of  Amoz  sent  to  Hezekiah,  say- 
ing. Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  Israel,  That  which  thou  hast 
prayed  to  me  against  Sennacherib,  king  of  Assyria,  I 
have  heard.  And  it  came  to  pass  that  night,  that  the 
angel  of  the  Lord  went  out,  and  smote  in  the  camp  of  the 
Assyrians  an  hundred  four  score  and  five  thousand  men." 

Like  the  leaves  of  the  forest,   when  summer  is  green, 
That  host  with  their  banners  at  sunset  were  seen  ; 
Like  the  leaves  of  the  forest,  when  autumn  is  flown. 
That  host  on  the  morrow  lay  withered  and  strewn. 

For  the  angel  of  death  spread  his  wings  on  the  blast, — 
And  breathed  in  the  face  of  the  foe  as  he  passed; 
And  the  breath  of  the  sleepers  grew  deadly  and  chill, 
And  their  hearts  but  once  heaved,  and  forever  were  still. 

Prayer  saved  Asa  and  his  little  army,  when  Zerah,  the 

Ethiopian,  with   a  million   of  men,   and   three  hundred 

chariots,  came   against  them.      But  Asa's  faith  in  God 

was  unwavering,  and  he  put  the  army  in  array : — 

*'And  Asa  cried  unto  the  Lord  his  God,  and  said.  Lord,  it  is 
nothing  with  thee  to  help,  whether  with  many,  or  with  them  that 
have  no  power:  help  us,  0  Lord  our  God;  for  we  rest  on  thee, 
and  in  thy  name  we  go  against  this  multitude.  0  Lord,  thou  art 
our  God ;  let  no  man  prevail  against  thee." 

"  So  the  Lord  smote  the  Ethiopians  before  Asa,  and 

before  Judah ;  and  the  Ethiopians  fled,  and  Asa  and  the 

people  that  were  with  him  pursued  them  unto  Gerar ; 

and  the  Ethiopians  were  overthrown,  that  they  could  not 

10 


110  PRAYER. 

recover  themselves ;  for  they  were  destroyed  before  the 
Lord,"  On  another  occasion,  Samuel  the  prophet  "  cried 
unto  the  Lord  for  Israel,  and  the  Lord  heard  him,"  and 
"thundered  that  day  upon  the  Philistines." 

Prayer  healed  the  sick.  We  have  a  remarkable  in- 
stance of  this  in  the  case  of  Hezekiah,  king  of  Israel. 
"  In  those  days  Hezekiah  was  sick  unto  death,  and  Isa- 
iah the  prophet,  the  son  of  Amoz,  came  unto  him,  and 
said  unto  him.  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Set  thine  house  in 
order  :  for  thou  shalt  die  and  not  live.  Then  Hezekiah 
turned  toward  the  wall,  and  prayed  unto  the  Lord,  and 
said, 

"Remember  now,  0  Lord,  I  beseech  thee,  how  I  have  walked 
before  thee  in  truth  and  with  a  perfect  heart,  and  have  done  that 
which  is  good  in  thy  sight.     And  Hezekiah  wept  sore." 

"  Then  came  the  word  of  the  Lord  to  Isaiah,  saying, 
Go  and  say  to  Hezekiah,  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  the  God 
of  David  thy  father,  I  have  heard  thy  prayer,  I  have 
seen  thy  tears :  behold,  I  will  add  unto  thy  days  fifteen 
years.  And  I  will  deliver  thee  and  this  city  out  of  the 
hand  of  the  king  of  Assyria:  and  I  will  defend  this  city. 
And  this  shall  be  a  sign  unto  thee  from  the  Lord,  that 
the  Lord  will  do  this  thing  that  he  hath  spoken  ;  Behold 
I  will  bring  again  the  shadow  of  the  degrees,  which  is 
gone  down  in  the  sun-dial  of  Ahaz  ten  degrees  backward. 
So  the  sun  returned  ten  degrees,  by  which  degrees  it  was 
gone  down." 

Prayer  raised  the  dead.  We  have  most  heart-cheering 
evidence  of  this  in  the  cases  of  the  widow's  son  and  the 


PRAYER.  HI 

Shunammitu's  child.     In  the  case  of  the  widow's  son, 
wo  read, 

"  Eiijjili  cried  unto  tlie  Lord,  and  said,  0  Lord  my  God,  hast  thou 
also  broujilit  evil  upon  the  widow  with  whom  I  sojourn,  by  sla^'ing 
her  son  ?  And  he  stretched  himself  upon  the  child  three  times,  and 
cried  unto  the  Lord,  and  said,  0  Lord  my  God.  I  pray  thee  let  this 
cliild's  soul  come  into  him  again.  And  the  Lord  heard  the  voice 
of  Elijah;  and  the  soul  of  the  child  came  into  him  again,  and  he 
revived." 

In  the  case  of  the  Shunammite's  son,  it  is  said  that 
"  when  the  child  was  grown,  it  fell  on  a  day,  that  it  went 
out  to  his  father  to  the  reapers,  and  he  said  unto  his 
father,  My  head,  my  head.  And  he  said  to  a  lad.  Carry 
him  to  his  mother ;  and  when  he  had  taken  him,  and 
brought  him  to  his  mother,  he  sat  on  her  knees  until 
noon,  and  then  died,  and  she  went  up  and  laid  him  on 
the  bed  of  the  man  of  God,  and  shut  the  door  upon  him, 
and  went  out.  And  she  called  unto  her  husband,  and 
said,  Send  me,  I  pray  thee,  one  of  the  young  men,  and 
one  of  the  asses,  that  I  may  run  to  the  man  of  God,  and 
come  again,  and  he  said.  Wherefore  wilt  thou  go  to  him 
to-day  ?  it  is  neither  new  moon  nor  Sabbath.  And  she 
said.  It  shall  be  well."  "And  when  Elisha  was  come 
into  the  house,  behold,  the  child  was  dead,  and  laid  upon 
his  bed,  he  w^ent  in  therefore,  and  shut  the  door  upon 
them  twain,  and  prayed  unto  the  Lord.  And  he  went 
up,  and  lay  upon  the  child,  and  put  his  mouth  upon  his 
mouth,  and  his  eyes  upon  his  eyes,  and  his  hands  upon 
liis  hands  :  and  he  stretched  himself  upon  the  child  ;  and 
the  flesh  of  the  child  waxed  warm.     Then  he  returned 


112  PRAYER. 

and  walked  in  the  house  to  and  fro ;  and  went  up  and 

stretched  himself  upon  him  :  and  the  child  sneezed  seven 

times,  and  the  child  opened  his  eyes.     And  he   called 

Gehazi,  and  said,  Call  this  Shunammite.     So  he  called 

her.     And  when  she  was  come  unto  him,  he  said.  Take 

up  thy  son.     Then  she  went  in,  and  fell  at  his  feet,  and 

bowed  herself  to  the  ground,  and  took  up  her  son,  and 

went  out." 

And  he  was  then  her  beautiful — her  own ; 
Living,  and  smiling  on  her,  with  his  arms 
Folded  about  her  neck,  and  his  warm  breath 
Breathing  upon  her  lips,  and  in  her  ear, 
The  music  of  his  gentle  voice  once  more. 

Nothing  seems  impossible  when  a  man  has  the  spirit 
of  adoption.  "  Let  Me  alone,"  is  the  remarkable  saying 
of  the  Lord  to  Moses,  when  Moses  was  about  to  inter- 
cede for  the  children  of  Israel.  The  Chaldee  version 
has  it,  "  Leave  off  praying."  Ex.  xxxii.  10.  So  long  as 
Abraham  asked  mercy  for  Sodom,  the  Lord  went  on 
giving.  He  never  ceased  to  give  till  Abraham  ceased 
to  pray. 

0  wondrous  power  of  faithful  prayer. 

What  tongue  can  tell  th'  Almighty  grace? 

God's  hands  bound  or  open  are, 
As  Moses  or  Elijah  prays : 

Let  Moses  in  the  Spirit  groan, 

And  God  cries  out — "Let  me  alone!" 

Let  me  alone,  that  all  my  wrath 

May  rise,  the  wicked   to  consume  ; 
While  justice  hears  thy  praying  faith, 

It  cannot  seal  the  sinner's  doom: 
My  Son  is  in  my  servant's  power, 
And  Jesus  forces  nie  to  spare. 


PRAYER.  118 

"  Whosoever  hIiiiH  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord 
«hall  be  saved."  Rom.  x.  13.  ''Behold,  I  stand  at  the 
door  and  knock :  if  any  man  hear  My  voice,  and  open 
the  door,  I  will  come  in  to  him,  and  will  sup  v^^ith  him, 
and  he  with  me ;"  "  and  I  will  raise  him  up  at  the  last 
day."  Eev.  iii.  20  ;  John  vi.  40.  "  If  any  man  lack  wis- 
dom," says  St.  James,  "let  him  ask  of  God,  that  giveth 
to  all  men  liberally,  and  upbraideth  not ;  and  it  shall  be 
given  him.  But  let  him  ask  in  faith,  nothing  wavering. 
For  he  that  wavereth  is  like  a  wave  of  the  sea,  driven 
with  the  wind  and  tossed.  For  let  not  that  man  think 
that  he  shall  receive  anything  of  the  Lord.  Elias  w^as  a 
man  subject  to  like  passions  as  we  are,  and  he  prayed 
earnestly  that  it  might  not  rain  :  and  it  rained  not  on 
the  earth  for  the  space  of  three  years  and  six  months. 
And  he  prayed  again  and  the  heavens  gave  rain,  and  the 
earth  brought  forth  her  fruit."  James  i.  5-7  ;  v.  lY,  18; 
1  Kings  xviii.  41-46.  The  church  at  Jerusalem  made 
prayer  without  ceasing  for  Peter  in  prison ;  but  when 
the  prayer  was  answered  they  would  hardly  believe  it. 
Acts  xii.  15  ;  xvi.  25-34. 

A  certain    good  man's  wife  was   once  taken  with  a 

fatal   sickness.      He   was   very  poor,  and   her  sickness 

crushed  him.     He  could  not  pay  his  rent.     His  landlord 

procured  a  writ,  and  sent  a  sheriff  to  seize  his  goods.    It 

was  a  moment  of  overwhelming  sorrow.     His  dying  wife 

wept  bitter  tears.     His  own  heart  was  breaking.    What 

could  he  do  ?     His  landlord  professed  reTigion  ;  would 

he  not  relax  his  grasp  and  let  the  woman  die  in  peace  ? 
10* 


11-i  PRAYER. 

No ;  his  religion  was  nothing  but  profession,  for  he 
turned  the  pleading  husband  from  his  door  with  words 
of  stone.  What  next  ?  Hear  the  poor  husband's  story. 
He  says  :  "  I  went  to  my  God.  I  knew  he  felt  for  me." 
(1  Pet.  V.  Y;  Jas.  ii.  13.)  "  I  laid  the  whole  affair  before 
him  with  many  a  speechless  tear. "  What  then  ?  God  an- 
swered that  cry  by  sending  a  friend  to  the  pleader,  who  told 

him  to  tell  the  state  of  his  affairs  to  a  Mr. .     He  did 

so,  and  Mr. replied  :  "  Do  not  be  troubled  about  it. 

I  will  help  you,  and  pay  your  rent  too."  This  poor  man 
cried,  and  the  Lord  delivered  him  out  of  all  his  trouble. 
Ps.  xxxiv.  6;  cxlvii.  3;  1  Cor.  iii.  21-23;  2  Cor.  v.  9,  10. 

Without  faith  it  is  impossible  to  please  God.  Heb.  xi. 
6;  Deut.  xxxii.  20;  Habak.  ii.  4.  "The  object,"  says 
Baillie,  "on  which  faith  fixes  its  eye,  is  not  the  heart's 
ever-varying  frames,  but  the  never-varying  Christ." 
"  The  soul,"  says  Flavel,  "  is  the  life  of  the  bod}- .  Faith 
is  the  life  of  the  soul.  Christ  is  the  life  of  faith."  The 
Christian's  faith,  like  the  world,  should  hang  on  nothing 
but  the  word  of  God,  and  have  no  other  support  but 
that;  and  he  himself,  like  the  stars,  should  float  on  the 
ether  of  confidence,  needing  nothing  to  uphold  him  but 
the  right  hand  of  the  God  of  Abraham. 

Those  who  wrestle  the  hardest  in  supplication  will 
hold  the  angel  the  longest.  Jacob  obtained  the  blessing, 
but  how  ?  Why,  he  wrestled  till  break  of  day;  that  is, 
as  the  prophet  explains  it  in  Hosea  xii.  14,  "  he  wept  and 
made  supplicsption  unto  Him."  He  was  importunate  in 
his  request ;  could  take  no  denial ;  but  offered  one  plea, 


I'KAYER.  115 

and  then  unullier,  until  he  had  power  witli  God,  and 
Jesus  blessed  him  there.  Gen.  xxxii.  24-30.  Beautiful 
in  its  simplicity  and  earnestness  is  Jacob's  pr^vjer : 

*'0  God  of  my  father,  Abraham,  and  God  of  my  father,  Isaac, 
the  Lord  which  saidst  unto  me,  Return  unto  thy  country,  and  to 
thy  kindred,  and  I  will  deal  well  with  thee :  I  am  not  worthy  of 
the  least  of  all  thy  mercies  and  of  all  thy  truth,  which  thou  hast 
showed  unto  thy  servant:  for  with  my  staff  I  passed  over  this 
Jordan,  and  now  I  am  become  two  bands.  Deliver  me,  I  pray 
thee,  from  the  hand  of  Esau,  for  I  fear  him,  lest  he  will  come  and 
smite  me,  and  the  mother  with  the  children.  And  thou  saidst,  I 
will  surely  do  thee  good,  and  make  thy  seed  as  the  sand  of  the 
sea,  which  cannot  be  numbered  for  multitude." 

Jacob  wrestled  with  the  Angel  of  Jehovah's  presence. 
He  agonized  with  none  other  than  the  incarnate  God. 
He  laid  hold  of  the  strength  of  the  Lord's  Anointed, 
that  he  might  be  at  peace  with  him.  "And  He  said,  let 
me  go,  for  the  day  breaketh."  No — this  can  never  be — 
to  let  go  now  is  to  lose  all.  Still,  though  halting  and 
weary,  he  clings  to  his  "  Friend" — and  cries  out,  "  1  will 
not  let  thee  go  except  thou  bless  me  !"  That  is  the  cry 
of  faith,  importunate,  fervent  faith,  that  will  take  no 
denial.  This  ended  the  conflict.  "  And  He  said  unto 
him.  What  is  thy  name  ?  And  he  said,  Jacob.  And  He 
said.  Thy  name  shall  no  more  be  called  Jacob,  but 
Israel ;  for  as  a  prince  hast  thou  power  with  God,  and 
hast  prevailed.  And  Jacob  asked  him  and  said.  Tell  me, 
I  pray  thee,  thy  name  ?  And  He  said,  Wherefore  is  it 
that  thou  dost  ask  after  my  name  ?  And  He  blessed  him 
there.  And  Jacob  called  the  name  of  that  place  Penuel, 
for  I  have  seen  God  face  to  face  and  my  life  is  preserved. 


116  PRAYER. 

And  as  he  passed  over  Penuel,  the  sun  rose  upon  him, 
and  he  halted  upon  his  thigh."  Gen.  xxxii.  14-24.  Esau 
is  appeased.  Instead  of  lifting  his  arm  in  anger  against 
his  brother  he  "ran  to  meet  him,  and  embraced  him,  and 
fell  on  his  neck  and  kissed  him  ;  and  they  wept." 

When  a  man  weeps  for  sin,  it  shows  that  he  has 
strength  of  mind ;  nay,  more,  that  he  has  strength  im- 
parted by  the  Holy  Spirit,  which  enables  him  to  amend 
his  ways  and  turn  to  God  with  full  purpose  of  heart. 
And  there  are  other  tears  of  might  too,  the  tears  of 
tender  sympathy ;  they  are  the  children  of  strong  affec- 
tion. St.  Paul,  in  his  charge  to  the  elders  of  the  Church 
of  Ephesus,  says,  "  Therefore  watch,  and  remember,  that 
by  the  space  of  three  years  I  ceased  not  to  warn  every 
one  night  and  day  with  tears."  Acts  xx.  19-31 ;  2  Cor. 
ii.  4.  Alas  !  how  unlike  is  this  to  many  of  our  supplica- 
tions I  It  is  written  of  the  Lord  JeSus  himself,  that  "  in 
the  days  of  his  flesh,  he  offered  up  prayers  and  supplica- 
tions with  strong  crying  and  tears."  Heb.  v.  Y.  Look 
at  him  at  the  grave  of  Lazarus,  and  at  the  gate  of  Nain ! 

The  prayers  of  David,  the  sweet  singer  of  Israel, 
bear  unmistakable  evidence  of  having  been  "offered  up 
with  strong  crying  and  tears."     Hear  him : 

"  0  Lord,  rebuke  me  not  in  thy  wrath,  neither  chasten  me  in 
thy  hot  displeasure.  For  thine  arrows  stick  fast  in  me,  and  thy 
hand  presseth  me  sore.  There  is  no  soundness  in  my  flesh  be- 
cause of  thine  anger;  neither  if;  there  any  rest  in  my  bones 
because  of  my  sins.  For  mine  iniquities  have  gone  over  mine 
head  :  as  an  heavy  burden  they  are  too  heavy  for  me.  My  wounds 
stink  and  are  corrupt  because  of  my  foolishness.  I  am  troubled  ; 
I  am  bound  down  greatly  ;   I  go  mourning  all  the  day  long.     For 


PRAYER.  117 

my  loins  are  fired  with  loathsome  disease;  and  there  is  no  sound- 
ness in  my  tiesh.     I  am  feeble  and  sore  broken:   I  have  roared  by 
reason  of  the  disquietness  of  my  heart.     Lord,  all  my  desire  is 
before  thee ;   and  my  groaning  is  not  hid  from  thee.     My  heart 
panteth,  my  strength  faileth  me :   as  for  the  liglit  of  mine  eyes,  it 
is  also  gone  from  me.     My  lovers  and  my  friends  stand  aloof  from 
my  sore  ;  and  my  kinsmen  stand  afar  off.     They  also  that  seek 
after  my  life  lay  i^nares  for  me  :  and  they  that  seek  my  hurt  speak 
mischievous  things,  and  imagine  deceits  all  the  day  long.     But  I, 
as  a  deaf  man,  heard  not ;  and  I  was  as  a  dumb  man  that  openeth 
not  his  mouth.     Thus  I  was  as  a  man  that  heareth  not,   and  in 
whose  mouth  are  no  reproofs.     For  in  thee,  0  Lord,  do  I  hope  : 
thou  wilt  hear,  0  Lord  my  God.     For  I  said.  Hear  me,  lest  other- 
wise they  should  rejoice   over  me:   when  my  foot  slippeth  they 
magnify  themselves  against  me.   For  1  am  ready  to  halt,  and  my  sor- 
row is  constantly  before  me.     For  I  will  declare  mine  iniquities  :  I 
will  be  sorry  for  my  sins.     But  mine  enemies  are  lively,  and  they 
are    strong:   and  they  that   hate   me   wrongfully   are  multiplied. 
They  also  that  render  evil  for  good  are  mine  adversaries;  because 
I  follow  the  thing  that  good  is.     Forsake  me  not,  0  Lord  God;   0 
my  God,  be  not  far  from  me.     Make  haste  to  help  me,  0  Lord  my 
salvation." 

Words,  looks,  actions,  may  bear  evidence  of  the  feel- 
ings, but  a  tear  comes  from  the  heart,  and  speaks  at  once 
the  language  of  truth,  nature,  and  sincerity.  Be  assured 
when  you  see  a  tear  on  the  cheek  of  any  man  that  his 
heart  is  touched,  and  do  not  behold  it  with  coldness  or 
insensibility.  Tears  are  the  unequivocal  language  of 
the  heart ;  they  are  the  unpassioned  eloquence  of  woe, 
before  which  the  pomp  and  gloss  of  speech  fade  as  the 
orient  pearly  dew-drop  before  the  morning  sun.  It  must 
be  a  stony  heart  indeed  in  which  the  responsive  chord 
of  sympathy  does  not  vibrate  with  the  tears  of  a  fellow- 
man  in  distress. 

When  the  believer  is  weakest,  then  is  he  the  strongest. 


118  PRAYER. 

The  child  that  knows  most  its  utter  feebleness,  intrusts 
itself  most  completely  into  its  mother's  arms.  The 
young  eagle  that  knows,  by  many  a  fall,  its  own  inability 
to  fly,  yields  itself  to  be  carried  on  its  mother's  wings : 
when  it  is  weak,  then  it  is  strong.  And  just  so  the  be- 
liever, when  he  has  found  out,  by  repeated  falls,  his  own 
utter  feebleness,  clings  with  simplest  faith  to  the  Sa- 
viour,— leans  on  his  Beloved,  coming  up  out  of  the 
wilderness,  and  hears  with  joy  the  words,  "  My  grace  is 
sufficient  for  thee,"  and  he  exclaims,  "  Thanks  be  unto 
God,  which  always  causeth  us  to  triumph  in  Christ." 
2  Cor.  ii.  14;  1  Cor.  xv.  61.  The  Lord  despises  all 
human  strength,  and  will  not  have  it.  Zech.  iv.  6  ;  Jer. 
xxiii.  29 ;  1  Cor.  viii.  2,  3.  Therefore  he  breaks  the 
bones  of  the  lion  and  flings  him  aside  into  the  field  to 
rot,  and  then,  after  a  little  while,  meat  comes  forth  from 
the  eater,  and  sweetness  from  the  strong.  Rejoice, 
therefore,  ye  "  weak"  ones !  for  the  Lord  says  to  you, 
"Take  hold  of  My  strength."  Isaiah  xxvii.  5;  Jer.  xvi. 
19.  ''He  giveth  power  to  the  faint;  and  to  them  that 
have  no  might  He  increaseth  strength.  Even  the  youths 
shall  faint  and  be  weary,  and  the  young  men  shall  utterly 
fall,  but  they  that  wait  upon  the  Lord  shall  renew  their 
strength  ;  they  shall  mount  up  with  wiugs  as  eagles ; 
they  shall  run,  and  not  be  weary,  and  they  shall  walk, 
and  not  faint."  Isaiah  xl.  29-3L  "When  I  am  weak, 
then  am  I  strong,"  says  St.  Paul;  and  if  there  be  any- 
thing paradoxical  to  reason,  it  is  this  saying.  But  in 
the  spiritual  life  of  the  Christian  it  has  its  root  struck 


PRAYER.  119 

through  and  through,  and  its  most  profound  and  im- 
portant meaning-.  While  we  are  strong  or  self-sufficient 
in  ourselves,  there  is  no  help  for  us.  But  when  the 
lamentation,  "  Lord,  save  or  we  perish!"  bursts  out  from 
the  distressed  and  melting  heart,  then  the  day  begins  to 
dawn. 

Prayer — earnest,  heart-felt  prayer — is  the  silver  trum- 
pet God  commands  us  to  sound  in  every  necessity,  and 
it  is  the  cry  he  has  promised  always  to  regard,  even  as  a 
loving  mother  the  voice  of  her  child.  "  Though  heaven 
be  His  throne,  and  the  earth  His  footstool,"  and  "  though 
the  heaven  of  heavens  cannot  contain  Him,"  (1  Kings 
viii.  27,)  he  looks  to.  He  dwells  with  the  man  who  is 
humble,  who  trembles  at  His  word.  "  Thus  saith  the 
high  and  lofty  One  that  inhabiteth  eternity,  whose  name 
is  Holy;  I  dwell  in  the  high  and  holy  place,  with  him 
also  that  is  of  a  contrite  and  humble  spirit,  to  revive  the 
spirits  of  the  humble,  and  revive  the  heart  of  the  contrite 
ones."  Isaiah  Ivii.  15;  Psalm  cxlvii.  3-12;  John  xiv. 
21-23;  1  Peter  v.  5-10.  Not  one  humble,  praying  soul 
ever  prayed  in  vain.  No,  not  one,  however  guilty  and 
despised  in  this  world,  ever  went,  in  the  name  of  Jesus, 
to  the  throne  of  grace,  and  departed  unheard  and 
unblest. 

Oh,  what  an  honor  for  poor  mortal  men,  to  be  admitted 
to  a  direct  and  immediate  intercourse  with  "  the  Lord  of 
glory,"  to  open  to  him  our  hearts,  to  unfold  to  him  our 
wants,  and  to  speak  to  him  as  a  child  does  to  his  father  1 
"  Like  as  a  father  pitieth  his  children,  so  the  Lord  pitieth 


120  PRAYER. 

them  that  fear  him."  Psahii  ciii.  13;  Deut.  viii.  5. 
"Blessed  are  they  that  keep  His  testimonies,  and  seek 
Him  with  the  whole  heart."  Psalm  cxix.  2.  Ah,  yes; 
and  blessed  is  that  father  who  can  in  the  day  of  trouble 
call  his  family  around  him,  and  lifting  his  heart  to  hea- 
ven, with  humble  faith  and  holy  love,  say : 

"0  God,  Avlio  madest  earth  and  sky, 

The  darkness  and  the  day, 
Give  ear  to  this  thy  family, 

And  help  us  when  we  pray, — 
For  wild  the  waves  of  bitterness 

Around  our  vessel  roar. 
And  heavy  grows  th«  pilot's  heart, 

To  view  the  rocky  shore. 
The  Cross  our  Master  bore  for  us, 

For  Him  we  fain  would  bear; 
But  mortal  strength  to  weakness  turns, 

And  courage  to  despair. 
Have  mercy  on  our  failings.  Lord ; 

Our  sinking  faith  renew ; 
And  when  thy  sorrows  visit  us, 

0  send  thy  patience  too." 

Prayer  is,  of  all  habits,  the  one  which  we  recollect  the 
longest.  Many  a  grey-headed  man  could  tell  you  how 
his  father  or  his  mother,  or  both,  used  to  make  him  pray 
in  the  days  of  his  childhood.  Other  things  have  passed 
from  his  memory  and  left  no  mark  behind,  but  not  so 
with  his  first  prayers.  He  will  often  be  able  to  tell  you 
where  he  knelt,  and  what  he  was  taught  to  say,  and  even 
how  lovingly  his  parents  looked  while  he  raised  his 
infant  voice  to  heaven.  It  will  come  up  as  fresh  before 
his  mind's  eye  as  if  it  were  yesterday. 

Noble  and  beautiful  indeed  is  the   example  of  that 


PRAYER.  121 

youth  who  truly  loves  his  parents,  and  manifest  that 
love  by  promoting  their  enjoyments  and  lightening  their 
cares  and  burdens. 

"My  dear  Mary  Elizabeth,"  said  a  dying  father  to  his 
only  child,  "  read  to  me  once  more  our  Lord's  last  prayer 
for  his  disciples."  Mary  lighted  a  lamp,  and  read  to  him 
the  nth  Chapter  of  St.  John.  "Now,  raise  me  a  little, 
my  dear  child,"  said  her  father,  "  and  bring  me  the 
Bible."  Mary  put  the  precious  Volume  in  his  hands. 
"Listen,  my  dear  child,"  he  said,  "to  the  last  prayer  I 
oflTer  for  you."  With  a  trembling  voice,  and  marking  the 
passage  in  the  Bible  with  his  finger  as  he  spoke,  he 
prayed  as  follows  : — 

"0,  my  Lord  and  Saviour,  thou  art  calling  me  to  leave  this 
world,  and  I  must  leave  my  dear  cLild  alone  in  it.  But  let  her 
not  be  alone  :  be  thou  with  her.  May  I  go  to  thee,  to  be  with 
thee  where  thou  art,  0  my  Saviour !  and  do  thou  preserve  my 
child.  I  do  not  ask  thee  to  take  her  out  of  this  world  till  thou 
seest  it  best:  but,  0,  I  beseech  thee,  do  thou  keep  her  from  the 
evil  that  is  in  the  world.  Sanctify  her,  I  pray  thee,  by  thy  truth — 
thy  Word  is  truth.  Thou  gavest  her,  0  Lord,  to  my  care  in  this 
world,  and  I  have  tried  as  far  as  I  could  to  devote  her  to  thee. 
If  we  must  part  now,  0  grant  that  we  may  meet  —  Avith  those 
*  gone  on  before' — at  thy  throne,  to  be  with  thee  forever  and  ever, 
and  to  behold  thy  glory ;  for  the  sake  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
Amen." 

With  a  throbbing  heart  and  a  faltering  voice,  Mary 
whispered,  "Amen."  "Yes,  my  dear  child,"  continued 
her  father,  "  I  trust  that  we  shall  meet  again  where 
there  will  be  no  more  grief,  no  more  sorrow,  no  more 
painful  separations.  When  your  three  brothers  died, 
I  suffered  very  deeply.  My  soul  seemed  dried  up 
11 


122  PKAYER. 

within  me.  I  was  broken  up  and  furrowed,  as  you  have 
seen  the  earth  in  time  of  drought ;  yet,  after  a  time,  the 
Lord  sent  the  abundant  and  refreshing  dew  of  his  con- 
solations, and  revived  my  thirsty  soul,  and  I  felt  the 
benefit  of  the  aflQictions ;  for,  by  these  and  other  sore 
trials,  he  weaned  me  more  and  more  from  earthly  things, 
and  helped  me  to  set  my  affections  on  things  above." 

The  "poor"  man  (Rev.  ii.  9 ;  2  Cor.  vi,  9,  10 ;  Jer.  ix. 
23,  24,)  now  fell  back  on  his  pillow  exhausted ;  he  could 
speak  no  more  for  some  time,  and  Mary  stood  by  his 
side  in  silence.  The  Bible  was  still  grasped  in  his  hands. 
After  he  had  rested  a  few  minutes,  he  revived  a  little, 
and  said,  "  I  thank  you  once  more,  my  darling  child,  for 
all  your  care  and  kindness  to  me  in  my  long  illness.  You 
have  been  truly  a  dutiful  child,  and  God  will  bless  you. 
I  leave  you  to  his  care,  and  to  the  care  of  these  Christian 
friends  around  my  dying  bed.  Trust  in  Him,  my  dear 
child,  and  he  will  provide  for  you,  though  I  have  but 
little  to  leave  you  but  my  blessing  and  this  sacred  Book. 
I  know  that  you  will  esteem  both  more  than  any  wo^'ldly 
thing.  This  Bible  only  cost  a  few  shillings,  and  yet  it 
is  a  richer  treasure  than  gold  or  silver.  It  is  a  better 
legacy  than  gold  or  jewels,  for  it  is  the  Word  of  God ; 
and  by  it  we  learn  to  know  that  heavenly  wisdom  which 
is  better  than  rubies.  (Prov.  iii.  13-18;  viii,  4-36;  Job 
xxviii.  12-28:  Bom.  i.  16,  11.) 

'Thou  truest  Friend  that  man  e'er  knew, 

Thy  constancy  I've  tried ; 
Where  all  were  false  I've  found  thee  true, 
My  Counselor  and  Guide ! 


PKAYER.  123 

The  mines  of  earth  no  treasure  give 

That  could  this  Volume  buy  ; 
In  teaching  me  the  way  to  live, 

It  taught  me  how  to  die.' 

Take  this  precious  Book,  my  beloved  child,  as  your 
father's  last  gift.  Keep  it  as  a  remembrance  of  me. 
However  busy  you  may  be,  do  not  let  any  morning  or 
evening  pass  without  reading  a  small  portion  of  it.  Try 
and  fix  a  verse  or  two  in  your  memory,  to  think  of  and 
meditate  on  through  the  day  and  evening,  when  your 
hands  are  busy.  If  you  do  not  understand  any  passage, 
pray  to  God  to  grant  you  his  Holy  Spirit  to  enlighten 
you.  God  himself,  and  he  only,  can  open  your  eyes  and 
make  you  see  wonderful  things  in  this  glorious  Yolume. 
(Psalm  cxix.  18-1T  ;  Jer.  xxxiii.  3.)  And  if  you  pray  to 
him  be  will  do  this,  and  will  give  you  day  by  day  more 
knowledge  of  himself.  Each  verse,  meditated  upon  with 
prayer,  will  become  a  fresh  treasure  of  heavenly  wisdom. 
1  have  learned  more  from  these  few  words,  '  Consider 
the  lilies  of  the  field,'  than  I  learned  in  my  youth  from 
many  a  volume.  These  simple  words  have  been  the 
origin  of  my  purest  enjoyments ;  and  in  many  an  afflic- 
tion, when  1  was  ready  to  faint  under  the  weight  of  the 
trial,  they  have  revived  my  courage,  strengthened  my 
faith,  and  restored  peace  to  my  soul." 

It  is  recorded  as  the  character  of  the  wicked,  that 
"they  call  not  upon  the  Lord."  1  Peter  i.  17;  1  Cor.  i. 
2;  Psalm  xiv.  4.  "They  spend  their  days  in  wealth, 
and  in  a  moment  go  down  to  the  grave.  Therefore  they 
say  unto  God,  Depart   from   us,  for  we  desire  not  the 


124  PRAYER. 

knowledge  of  thy  ways.  What  is  the  Almighty,  that 
we  should  serve  him  ?  and  what  profit  should  we  have, 
if  we  pray  unto  him  ?  Lo,  their  good  is  not  in  their 
hand:  the  counsel  of  the  wicked  is  far  from  me."  Job. xxi. 
13-16  ;  xxvii.  8-22.  It  is  said  of  the  backsliding  Israel- 
ites, "  Your  words  have  been  stout  against  me,  saith  the 
Lord.  Yet  ye  say,  What  have  we  spoken  so  much 
against  thee  ?  Ye  have  said.  It  is  a  vain  thing  to  serve 
God ;  and  what  profit  is  it  that  we  have  kept  his  ordi- 
nances, and  that  we  have  walked  mournfully  before  the 
Lord  of  hosts  ?  and  now  we  call  the  proud  happy ;  yea, 
they  that  work  wickedness  are  set  up ;  yea,  they  that 
tempt  God  are  even  delivered. 

"  Then  they  that  feared  the  Lord  spake  often  one  to 
another :  and  the  Lord  hearkened  and  heard  it,  and  a 
book  of  remembrance  was  written  before  him  for  them 
that  feared  the  Lord,  and  that  thought  upon  his  name. 
And  they  shall  be  mine,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  in  that 
day  when  I  make  up  my  jewels ;  and  I  will  spare  them 
as  a  man  spareth  his  own  son  that  serveth  him.  Then 
shall  ye  return  and  discern  between  the  righteous  and 
the  wicked,  between  him  that  serveth  God  and  him  that 
serveth  him  not."  Malachi  iii.  13-18  ;  Joel  ii.  32.  "  Then 
shall  the  righteous  shine  forth  as  the  sun  in  the  kingdom 
of  their  Father."  Matt.  xiii.  43  ;  Dan.  xii.  3.  Their  Sun 
shall  no  more  go  down ;  neither  shall  their  moon  with- 
draw itself:  for  the  Lord  shall  be  their  everlasting  light, 
and  the  davs  of  their  mourning  shall  be  ended. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

PRAYER,    CONTINUED. 

The  Bible— Its  amazing  value — What  David  and  Daniel  thought  of  it 
— What  the  veterans  of  the  Cross  say — Dr.  Arnold's  remarks — "  Praying 
with  all  prayer"  hateful  to  the  Devil — His  devices — The  weapons  he  uses 
— What  the  Christian  must  do — How  to  distinguish  the  true  disciples  of 
Christ  from  mere  professors  or  "  reprobates" — Sweet  hour  of  prayer — 
Prayer  within  the  reach  of  all — Ignorance  or  want  of  education  no  ex- 
cuse— What  every  true  soldier  of  Christ  does — What  David  said  of 
"  filthy  rags"  or  self-righteousness — The  power  of  Satan — His  depths — 
His  perfidious  cruelty — Tries  to  delude,  degrade,  and  ruin  the  Christian 
— His  lying  and  detestable  character — His  last  resource  to  destroy  the 
Christian — The  warnings  of  the  fathers  against  his  deceptions — What 
provokes  Christ  most — The  recording  Angel  ever  present — Unguarded 
moments — What  the  erring  Christian  must  do — What  broke  Petei-*s  heart 
— The  Lord's  last  prayer  fur  his  disciples,  and  for  all  who  come  to  him. 

Xo  man  can  become  truly  religious  without  a  close 
study  of  the  Bible.  A  prayerful  contemplation  of  its 
glorious  pages  fills  the  soul  with  emotions  of  love  and 
tenderness,  and  lifts  the  heart  in  anthems  of  praise  to  its 
glorious  Author.  Daniel  was  pondering  over  the  writ- 
ings of  Jeremiah  when  he  was  stimulated  to  present  that 
effectual  prayer,  in  answer  to  which  Gabriel  was  sent  a 
ministering  spirit,  to  assure  him  of  being  "  greatly  be- 
loved," and  to  give  him  skill  and  understanding.  The 
sweet  singer  of  Israel  took  great  delight  in  the  perusal 
11*  (125) 


126  PRAYER. 

of  God's  word,  and  pronounced  it  to  be  more  precious 
"  than  gold,  yea,  than  much  fine  gold  :  sweeter  also  than 
honey  and  the  honey-comb."  "  A  man's  love  of  the 
Bible  at  the  beginning  of  a  religious  course,"  says  Dr. 
Arnold,  "is  such  as  makes  the  praise  which  older  Chris- 
tians give  in  its  behalf  seem  exaggerated  ;  but,  after 
thirty,  forty,  or  fifty  years  of  a  religious  life,  such  praise 
always  sounds  inadequate  :  its  glories  seem  so  much 
more  full  than  they  did  at  first."  And  this  experience 
of  the  inexhaustibleness  of  the  Bible  grows  with  the 
perusal.  The  more  we  read  it,  the  more  we  desire  to 
read,  and  the  more  we  find  to  read.  After  all  our  delv- 
ing there  are  profounder  depths  to  be  sounded ;  after  all 
our  soaring,  there  are  still  loftier  heights  to  be  scaled. 
Psalm  cxix.  18;  Jer.  xxxiii.  3;  Deut.  xvii.  18,  20. 

Hail,  glorious  Gospel !  heavenly  light  whereby 
We  live  with  comfort  and  with  comfort  die  ; 
And  view  beyond  this  gloomy  scene,  the  tomb, 
A  life  of  endless  happiness  to  come. 

It  is  said  by  the  biographer  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Al- 
leine,  author  of  the  "  Alarm  to  the  Unconverted,"  that  he 
rose  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  employed  the  time 
till  eight  in  meditation  and  prayer  ;  and  considers  that 
as  the  principal  means  of  Mr.  Alleine's  high  attainments 
in  the  Divine  life,  and  his  glowing  zeal  for  God,  love  to 
souls,  and  extensive  usefulness  as  a  minister  of  the  Gos- 
pel. It  is  said  by  the  biographer  of  the  Rev.  John  Flet- 
cher, that  "  at  one  period  of  his  life,  he  was  brought  into 
such  an  intricate  situation,  that  he  was  whollv  at  a  loss 


PRAYER.  127 

to  discover  what  God  required  at  his  hands.  And  such 
was  the  dilliculty  before  him,  that  the  opinions  of  his 
most  experienced  Christian  friends  could  afford  him  but 
little  light  with  respect  to  it.  In  this  state,  for  three 
months  successively,  he  spread  the  intricacies  of  his  case 
before  God,  entreating  that  he  would  direct  the  course 
of  his  conduct  by  the  order  of  his  providence  and  the  in- 
fluence of  his  Spirit.  His  request  was  continued  till  an 
answer  was  obtained.  It  is  written  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  himself,  that  he  often  withdrew  from  Company 
and  prayed  alone.  "  In  the  morning,  rising  up  a  great 
while  before  day,  he  went  out  and  departed  into  a  soli- 
tary place,  and  there  prayed."  Mark  i.  35.  On  another 
occasion,  "  He  went  into  a  mountain  to  pray,  and  con- 
tinued all  night  in  prayer  to  God."  He  hath  thus  left  us 
an  example  that  we  should  follow  in  his  footsteps. 

The  devil  will  do  all  he  can  to  keep  us  from  our 
closets,  embarrass  our  minds,  and  hinder  us  in  our  ap- 
proaches to  the  throne  of  grace.  He  knows  that  "pray- 
ing with  all  prayer,"  is  an  essential  part  of  the  Chris- 
tian's armor ;  and  that  the  feeblest  soldier  of  the  cross, 
if  he  give  himself  unto  prayer,  shall  more  than  conquer. 
Eph.  vi.  10-19;  Isaiah  xl.  29-31.  He  will,  therefore, 
exercise  his  craft  and  exert  his  power  to  draw  or  drive 
us  from  the  duty ;  and  will  avail  himself  of  every 
circumstance  and  occurrence  favorable  to  his  diabolical 
purposes ;  and  will  adapt  his  temptations  to  our  natural 
disposition  and  temperament,  and  take  advantage  of 
all  our  weaknesses.     Hence  the  hinderances  to  prayer 


128  PRAYER. 

are  many  and  various.  If  we  give  place  to  the  devil  by 
fostering  pride,  discontent,  distrust  of  Divine  Providence, 
self-will,  or  any  other  wrong  temper  toward  God,  we 
grieve  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  become  indisposed  for  secret 
intercourse  with  Him  who  "is  of  purer  eyes  than  to  be- 
hold iniquity."  Envy,  revenge,  censoriousness,  evil- 
speaking,  or  any  other  temper  contrary  to  the  love  of 
"  the  brethren,"  will  have  the  same  effect. 

Unkindness  toward  those  who  have  a  high  and  holy 
claim  to  our  sympathy  and  affection  is  painfully  cruel. 
We  are  all  creatures  of  sympathy.  We  share  each 
other's  life,  and  have  the  power  to  render  each  other 
happy  or  unhappy.  The  wound  inflicted  by  the  sword 
is  no  more  painful  than  the  wound  inflicted  by  a  cruel 
tale-bearing  and  slanderous  tongue.  Psalm  xli.  6 ; 
Prov.  xi.  9 ;  Jer.  ix.  3-8 ;  xviii.  18 ;  James  iii.  6.  How- 
careful,  then,  should  we  be  in  all  our  words,  looks,  and 
acts,  lest  we  pain  the  heart  of  a  fellow-being.  In  the 
strength  of  our  selfishness  we  too  often  forget  the  harsh- 
ness of  our  words,  and  the  coldness  or  bitterness  of  our 
looks.  We  care  not  for  the  deep  and  bleeding  incisions 
which  they  have  left  behind  them.  "  It  was  not  an 
enemy,"  says  the  Psalmist,  "  that  reproached  me;  then 
I  could  have  borne  it:  neither  was  it  he  that  hated  me 
that  did  magnify  himself  against  me  ;  then  I  would  have 
hid  myself  from  him  :  but  it  was  thou,  a  man  mine 
equal,  my  guide,  and  mine  acquaintance.  We  took 
sweet  counsel  together,  and  walked  unto  the  house  of 
God  in  company."  Psalm  Iv.  12-14  ;  Jer.  ix.  4,  5.    "  These 


PKAYEli.  liiy 

» 

are  the  things  that  ye  shall  do  :  Speak  ye  every  man  the 
truth  to  his  neighbor;  exeeute  the  judgment  of  truth  and 
peace  in  your  gates :  and  let  none  of  you  imagine  evil 
in  your  hearts  against  his  neighbor ;  and  love  no  false 
oath:  for  all  these  are  things  that  I  hate,  saith  the 
Lord." 

Unwatchfulness  and  levity  of  spirit  are  also  great 
hinderances  to  prayer.  While  we  shudder  at  the  idea  of 
committing  open  sin,  we  may  unawares  slide  into  a  care- 
less and  trifling  spirit,  and  its  natural  attendant,  trifling 
conversation ;  by  which  the  mind  is  disqualified  for  the 
spiritual  exercises  of  the  religion  of  the  glorious  Gospel 
of  Christ.  Cheerfulness  becomes  a  Christian ;  and  if 
tempered  with  discretion  and  deep  piety,  makes  religion 
appear  amiable  to  "the  world,"  and  conducive  to  our 
own  happiness.  But  trifling  and  levity  are  unbecoming 
the  Christian  character,  and  unfit  the  mind  for  prayer. 
St.  Paul  ranks  "  foolish  talking"  and  "jesting"  with 
fornication,  uncleanness,  covetousness,  and  filthiness. 
Listen  :  "  But  fornication,  and  all  uncleanness,  or  covet- 
ousness, let  it  not  be  once  named  among  you,  as  becometh 
saints ;  neither  filthiness,  nor  foolish  talking,  nor  jesting, 
which  are  not  convenient:  but  rather  giving  of  thanks. 
For  this  ye  know,  that  no  whoremonger,  nor  unclean 
person,  nor  covetous  man,  who  is  an  idolater,  hath  any 
inheritance  in  the  kingdom  of  Christ  and  of  God.  Let 
no  man  deceive  you  with  vain  words :  for  because  of 
these  things  cometh  the  wrath  of  God  upon  the  children 
of  disobedience.     Be   not  ye   therefore   partakers  with 


130  PRAYER. 

them."  Eph.  v.  3-t ;  2  Peter  ii.  8-10.  "  These  are  they 
who  separate  themselves,  sensual,  having  not  the  Spirit. 
But  ye  beloved,  building  up  yourselves  on  your  most 
holy  faith,  praying  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  keep  yourselves 
in  the  love  of  God,  looking  for  the  mercy  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  unto  eternal  life." 

Sweet  hour  of  prayer !   sweet  hour  of  prayer  ! 

That  calls  me  from  a  world  of  care, 

And  bids  me  at  my  Father's  throne 

Make  all  my  wants  and  wishes  known; 

In  seasons  of  distress  and  grief, 

INIy  soul  has  often  found  relief; 

And  oft  escaped  the  tempter's  snare 

By  thy  return,   sweet  hour  of  prayer. 

Sweet  hour  of  prayer  !  sweet  hour  of  prayer ! 

Thy  wings  shall  my  petition  bear, 

To  Him  whose  truth  and  faithfulness, 

Engage  the  waiting  soul  to  bless; 

7\nd  since  he  bids  me  seek  his  face, 

Believe  his  word,  and  trust  his  grace, 

I'll  cast  on  him  my  every  care. 

And  wait  for  thee,   sweet  hour  of  prayer. 

Sweet  hour  of  prayer!   sweet  hour  of  prayer! 

May  I  thy  consolation  share  ; 

Till  from  Mount  Pisgah's  lofty  height, 

I  view  my  home,   and  take  my  flight: 

This  robe  of  flesh  I'll  drop,  and  rise 

To  seize  the  everlasting  prize ; 

And  shout,  while  passing  through  the  air, 

Farewell,  farewell,  sweet  hour  of  prayer. 

Prayer  is  within  the  reach  of  all, — the  sick,  the  aged, 
the  infirm,  the  paralytic,  the  blind,  the  poor,  the  un- 
learned, all  can  pray.  It  avails  us  nothing  to  plead  want 
of  memory  or  want  of  learning,  or  want  of  books,  or 


PRAYER.  131 

want  of  scholarship  in  this  matter.  Acts  iv.  1.3;  Luke 
xviii.  13,  14  ;  Rom.  viii.  2G,  27  ;  Psalm  xxv.  14.  "  Some- 
times, perhaps,"  says  Gurnall,  "thou  hearest  another 
Christian  pray  with  much  freedom  and  fluency,  whilst 
thou  canst  hardly  get  out  a  few  broken  words.  Hence, 
thou  art  ready  to  accuse  thyself  and  to  admire  him ;  as 
if  the  gilding  of  the  key  made  it  open  the  door."  Gifts 
have  their  root  in  nature,  but  grace  has  its  roots  in 
Christ.  Lip-service  amounts  to  nothing.  God  looks  at 
the  heart,  and  knows  the  imaginations  of  the  thoughts. 
]  Chron.  xxviii.  9;  Job  xlii.  1;  Psalm  cxxxix.  4-12; 
Hosea  vii.  2  ;  John  i.  48,  49.  It  was  not  the  eloquent 
proud-praying  Pharisee  that  "  went  down  to  his  house 
justified,"  but  the  poor  publican  who  "  smote  on  his 
breast,  saying,  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner." 

Inward  life  does  not  consist  in  a  life  of  morbid  security, 
arising  from  the  recollection  of  having  once  received  the 
forgiveness  of  sins.  Where  a  real  spiritual  life  exists, 
there  will  be  unceasing  striving  against  sin,  repeated 
humiliation  before  God,  and  renewed  experience  of  his 
favor.  Were  it  otherwise,  w^hy  should  the  Lord  put  into 
his  children's  lips  the  daily  petition,  "Forgive  us  our 
trespasses."  The  true  Soldier  of  the  Cross  does  not 
feel  lifted  up  by  the  view  of  what  he  has  already  spirit- 
ually attained,  but  humbled,  because  he  is  still  so  far 
short  of  w^hat  he  w^ould  like  to  be.  He  knows  that 
Christ  is  "all"  in  his  salvation,  and  that  he  is  nothing. 
He  knows  that  his  own  righteousness  is  but  "filthy 
rags"  before  God ;  that  he  is  nothing,  and  that  he  can 


182  PRAYEK. 

do  nothing  meritorious  to  procure  salvation  from  God ; 
for  whatever  he  does,  and  whatever  he  can  give,  are 
ah-eady  God's  property.  Luke  xvii.  10  ;  Deut  viii.  10-19. 
So  that  he  is  still  led  to  look  up  to  God,  as  David  did, 
when  he  thus  disclaims  the  possibility  of  creature  merit : 
"  All  things  come  of  Thee,  and  of  thine  own  have  we 
given  thee."  1  Chron.  xxix.  14-16  ;  Psalm  1.  12.  We 
must  tear  in  pieces  the  dress  of  our  imaginary  righteous- 
ness, power,  and  wisdom.  Jer.  ix.  23,  24 ;  Prov.  xxviii. 
26.  We  must  not  conceal  our  nakedness,  nor  seek  to 
hide  our  shame  under  the  cover  of  the  forgiveness  we 
obtained  years  ago.  We  must  always  come  before  God 
as  poor  sinners  and  poverty-stricken  mendicants,  if  we 
wish  to  recommend  ourselves  to  him.  All  self-exaltation 
is  an  abomination  in  his  sight. 

The  frequency  and  earnestness  with  which  holy  men 
of  God,  who  spoke  as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy 
Ghost,  warn  the  Church  against  the  wiles  of  Satan,  prove 
how  absolutely  necessary  it  is,  on  the  part  of  the  Chris- 
tian soldier,  to  "watch  and  pray,"  to  be  continually  upon 
his  guard.  The  devil  to  them  was  not  "the  principle  of 
evil,"  but  a  terrible  malevolent,  personal  reality  —  "a 
roaring  lion,  going  about  seeking  whom  he  may  devour." 
1  Peter  iv.  8;  Luke  xxii.  31.  Or  disguised  as  "  an  angel 
of  light,"  seeking  whom  he  may  deceive.  2  Cor.  xi.  14, 
15;  Rev.  ii.  24.  "Hell"  and  the  "Devil"  were  not 
"figments  of  the  imagination"  with  them,  but  horri- 
ble, ever-present  actualities,  that  inspired  them  with 
unspeakable  earnestness  in  warning  saint  and  sinner  not 


r  RAVER.  133 

to  listen  to  the  latter,  and  to  hasten  to  Christ  that  they 
might  escape  the  former.  This  realization  of  the  unseen 
and  eternal,  both  in  their  infernal  and  celestial  aspects, 
was  one  of  the  great  elements  of  their  power.  This  is 
also  true  of  every  man  who  shines  or  has  shone  in  the 
pulpit  department  of  ministerial  usefulness.  Had  Lu- 
ther not  thrown  the  inkstand  at  the  devil,  or  John  Wes- 
ley heard  of  the  strange  noises  and  the  mysterious 
movements  in  the  parsonage  of  Epworth,  or  John  Bun- 
van  been  favored  with  such  visions  of  the  invisible 
world  in  Bedford  jail,  or  Stoner  and  Smith,  or  Payson 
and  M'Cheyne  been  in  such  intimate  relations  with  the 
spiritual,  they  never  could  have  preached  or  written 
with  such  marvelous,  self-forgetful,  incisive,  penetrating 
clearness  and  force  as  they  did. 

In  intellect,  in  strength,  in  powers  of  perception,  in 
subtlety,  in  all  the  faculties  which  make  a  malignant  foe 
formidable,  Satan  towers  above  the  hosts  of  darkness, 
who  obey  and  follow  him  as  their  leader  and  prince. 
The  titles  ascribed  to  him  in  the  Scriptures  all  illustrate 
his  malignity  and  power.  They  imply  that  he  is  desti- 
tute of  every  good  principle — that  he  falters  not  in  view 
of  any  expedient  which  may  help  him  to  consummate 
his  schemes  of  ruin.  He  is  to  be  deterred  by  no  sug- 
gestions of  pity;  a  stranger  alike  to  truth  and  love,  he 
lies  in  wait  to  deceive,  and  by  all  the  devices  of  infernal 
cunning,  he  toils,  tasking  his  mighty  energies  to  the 
utmost,  in  order  to  delude,  degrade,  and  ruin  the  victims 
of  his  perfidious  cruelty.  Gen.  iii.  1-4;  Isaiah  lix.  19; 
12. 


184  PRAYER. 

2  Cor.  ii.  11 ;  1  Tim.  iii.  6  ;  2  Tim.  ii.  24-20  ;  1  Teter  v. 
8-10  ;  James  iv.  T.  In  the  New  Testament  he  is  spoken 
of  as  "the  Devil,"  or  "the  Caluminator,"  because  be  is 
"  the  accuser  of  the  brethren  ; "  as  "  the  Tempter,"  as  "  a 
Liar  and  a  Murderer  from  the  beginning  ; "  as  "  the  Old 
Serpent,  Avho  deceived  Eve,"  and  as  "the  Deceiver." 
John  viii.  44  ;  2  Cor.  iv.  3,  4  ;  Eph.  ii.  2  ;  Rev.  xii.  9-12. 
He  is  represented  in  Kevelations  as  "the  Great  Dra- 
gon,"—  as  "the  Angel  of  the  Bottomless  Pit,  whose 
name  is,  in  Hebrew,  Abaddon,  and  in  the  Greek,  Apol- 
lyon,  the  Destroyer."  The  apostle  Paul  styles  him  "the 
Prince  of  the  power  of  the  air,"  and  "the  god  of  this 
world."  These  are  the  principal  titles  ascribed  to  the 
devil  in  the  Scriptures,  and  sufficiently  indicate  his  cha- 
racter and  power. 

The  wrath  of  Satan  is  directed  to  the  two-fold  object 
of  rendering  the  lives  of  men  miserable  upon  earth,  and 
of  blasting  their  hope  and  prospect  of  eternal  life  in  hea- 
ven. He  dwells  in  the  wicked,  and  leads  them  captive 
at  his  will.  Eph.  ii.  2 ;  2  Tim.  ii.  26.  When  he  cannot 
lure  the  Christian  from  the  path  of  God's  testimonies, 
when  despite  of  all  his  artifices  he  holds  fast  the  truths 
of  the  Gospel,  he  stirs  up  the  passions  of  the  wicked  in 
whom  he  rules,  and  who  hate  the  oracles  of  God,  because 
they  have  pleasure  in  unrighteousness.  In  the  calami- 
ties entailed  upon  the  house  of  Israel  by  their  repeated 
backslidiugs  and  apostacies  from  God,  we  behold  the 
traces  of  Satan's  power  and  malice  as  "the  Destroyer." 
He   inflames   men   to  the    utmost   pitch  of  blasphemy 


PRAYER.  135 

against  God,  in  thu  hope  that  they  may  Ije  suddenly  cut 
oft"  and  driven  away  in  their  wickedness.  He  blinds  the 
minds  of  men,  and  hardens  their  hearts  by  strong  delu- 
sions, that  they  may  believe  a  lie  and  be  damned.  2  Cor. 
iv.  3,  4 ;  1  Peter  ii.  1-8 ;  Jude  lG-19. 

Christ  is  never  more  wounded  in  the  house  of  his 
friends,  than  when  they  murmur;  nothing  seemed  so 
much  to  overcome  his  forbearance  with  the  Israelites. 
Murmuring  is  a  mercy-embittering  sin,  a  mercy-souring 
sin.  As  the  sweetest  things  put  into  a  sour  vessel  sours 
them,  or  put  into  a  bitter  vessel  embitters  them,  so  nmr- 
muring  puts  gall  and  wormwood  into  every  cup  of  mercy 
that  God  gives  into  the  Christian's  hands.  It  is  calcu- 
lated that  not  less  than  one  million  of  the  children  of 
Israel  died  in  the  wilderness  by  God's  judgments  for 
their  murmurings. 

Oh,  if  men  would  remember  that  the  recording  Angel 
is  always  near  them,  how  different  w^ould  their  conversa- 
tion and  conduct  be.  Listen :  ''  Wo  unto  them  that  seek 
to  hide  deep  their  counsel  from  the  Lord,  and  their  works 
are  in  the  dark,  and  they  say,  Who  seeth  us  ?  and  who 
knowethus?"  Isaiah  xxix.  19.  "Suffer  not  thy  mouth 
to  cause  thy  flesh  to  sin ;  neither  say*  thou  before  the 
Angel,  it  was  an  error :  wherefore  should  God  be  angry 
at  thy  voice,  and  destroy  the  work  of  thine  hands  ?" 
"  Curse  not  the  king,  no,  not  in  thy  thought,  and  curse 
not  the  rich  in  thy  bed-chamber;  for  a  bird  of  the  air 
shall  carry  the  voice,  and  That  which  hath  wings  shall 
tell  the  matter."    Eccles.  v.  G ;  x.  20 ;  2  Kings  vi.  12; 


136  PRAYER. 

1  Cor.  iv.  9.  "  The  Lord  searcheth  all  hearts,  and  un- 
derstandeth  all  the  imaginations  of  the  thoughts."  1 
Chron.  xxviii.  9 ;  Job  xlii.  1.  "  There  is  not  a  word  in 
my  tongue,  but,  lo,  0  Lord,  thou  knowest  it  altogether." 
Psalm  cxix.  4 ;  Matt.  xii.  36 ;  2  Cor.  v.  10  ;  Heb.  iv.  13. 
Unguarded  moments  occur,  in  which  the  Christian  in- 
cautiously thinks,  speaks,  or  does  that  which  is  improper, 
and  is  again  guilty  of  unfaithfulness,  although  against  his 
will ;  for  only  the  devil  and  his  seed  sin  wilfully.  The 
man's  "walk"  is  polluted.  What  is  now  to  be  done?  Two 
paths  present  themselves,  and  not  unfrequently  one  of 
them  is  taken.  The  individual  either  gives  himself  up 
to  an  excessive  feeling  of  his  guilt — openly  cries  out, 
"Unclean,  unclean!"  like  one  who  is  excluded  from  the 
fellowship  of  the  pure, — regards  himself  as  fallen  from 
grace, — considers  the  bond  of  union  with  the  Lord  as 
rent  asunder,  and  cries  out  with  Peter,  "  Lord,  not  my 
feet  only,  but  also  my  hands  and  my  head  !"  Or  else 
he  takes  his  transgressions  too  easily, — persuades  him- 
self that  the  faults  he  has  committed  are  of  no  import- 
ance,— soothes  his  conscience  with  the  rash  and  vain 
idea  that  the  iniquity  belongs  to  the  multitude  of  sins 
which  have  been-atoncd  for  and  annihilated  by  the  blood 
of  Christ,  and  thus  unconcernedly  proceeds  on  his  way ! 
In  each  of  these  cases  there  is  a  deviation,  the  one  to 
the  right,  and  the  other  to  the  left  of  the  line  of  truth. 
In  the  former,  the  man  gives  way  unnecessarily  to  an 
excessive  idea  of  the  fault  he  has  committed,  and  as- 
cribes it  to  an  influence   over  his  entire  state  of  grace, 


PRAYER.  137 

which  according  to  the  Scriptures  it  docs  not  exercise. 
The  child  of  the  family  of  God  is  not  suddenly  turned 
out  doors,  like  a  servant  or  a  stranger.  The  seed  of 
the  new  birth  remains  in  him,  "  He  that  is  washed," 
says  Jesus,  "is  clean  every  whit;  and  ye  are  clean  but 
not  all."  Who  does  not  understand  this  speech?  Its 
meaning  is,  he  that  has  truly  become  a  partaker  of  the 
blood  of  sprinkling  and  of  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
— that  is,  of  the  twofold  grace  of  absolution  from  the 
guilt  of  sin,  and  of  the  regeneration  to  newness  of  life, — 
is,  as  regards  the  inmost  germ  of  his  being,  a  thoroughly 
new  man,  who  has  eternally  renounced  sin,  and  whoso 
inmost  love,  desire^  and  intention  is  direct  to  God  and 
divine  things. 

When  such  a  man,  from  weakness,  is  "  overtaken  by 
a  fault,"  as  St.  Paul  expresses  it,  he  has  no  need  of  an 
entirely  new  transformation,  but  only  a  cleansing.  He 
must  let  his  feet  be  washed.  Let  this  be  duly  considered 
by  those  who  are  in  a  state  of  grace,  and  let  them  *'  re- 
sist the  devil,"  "the  accuser  of  the  brethren,"  lest  he 
gain  an  advantage  over  them  by  his  boundless  accusa- 
tions. Hold  up  the  blood  of  the  Lamb  as  a  shield  against 
him,  and  do  not  suffer  your  courage  and  confidence  to  be 
shaken.  Rev.  xii.  9-11.  But  you  must  beware  of  cloak- 
ing or  underestimating  your  unfaithfulness.  No  fault  is 
too  trifling  or  inconsiderable.  You  must  suffer  the  Judge 
in  your  breast  to  perform  his  office  without  hinderance, 
and  not  refuse  to  listen  to  his  convictions.  You  must 
draw  near  to  God  as  grieved,  but  not  as  a  despairing 


138  PRAYEll. 

child,  and  sincerely  confess  your  faults.  Let  your  lan- 
guage be  as  follows: — 

"  0  Lord,  my  God,  I  have  sinned  against  thee  afresh,  anxl  am 
grieved  at  it.  I  judge  and  condemn  myself;  but  thy  mercy  is 
great,  and  therein  do  I  trust.  Sprinkle  my  conscience  with  the 
blood  of  atonement,  and  enable  me  by  faith,  to  appropriate,  for 
this  my  fault,  the  suffering  thy  dear  Son  endured  for  me!^' 

Let  the  humble  and  contrite  heart  pray  thus,  and  the 
Lord  will  graciously  incline  to  it,  and  impart  forgiveness  to 
the  soul  by  hisHoly  Spirit,  and  the  peace  of  the  soul  with 
the  consciousness  of  adoption  will  remain  undisturbed 
in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  And  0,  how  do  we  feel  our- 
selves again  united  to  the  Lord,  and  strengthened  anew 
to  fight  against  Satan,  the  world,  and  our  own  flesh  and 
blood;  and  how  does  the  joyful  confidence  bloom  afresh 
in  our  minds,  that  we  really  possess  *'  a  Friend  that 
sticketh  closer  than  a  brother,"  after  such  a  renewed  ex- 
perience of  His  faithfulness !  Then  we  arrive  again  at 
Penuel,  and  exultingly  say  with  Jacob,  "  I  have  seen 
the  Lord  face  to  face,  and  my  life  is  preserved ;"  and 
join,  with  deep  emotion,  in  the  words  of  David,  "  Re- 
turn unto  thy  rest,  0  my  soul !  for  the  Lord  hath  dealt 
bountifully  with  thee!" 

My  God  is  reconciled;  his  pard'ning  voice  I  hear; 
He  owns  me  for  his  child;  I  can  no  longer  fear; 

With  confidence  I  now  draw  nigh, 

And  Father,  Abba,   Father,  cry. 

It  is  said  of  Peter,  that  the  remembrance  of  his  fall 
never  left  him  for  a  moment;  and  in  the  degree  in  which 
it  kept  him  low,  it  sharpened  his  spiritual  vision  for  the 


PRAYER.  189 

mystery  of  the  cross  and  of  salvation  by  grace.  This  is 
abundantly  evident,  especially  in  his  first  epistle.  He 
there  comforts  believers  with  the  cheering  assurance  that 
they  are  "  Kept  by  the  power  of  God,  through  faith  unto 
salvation."  He  calls  upon  them  to  "  hope  to  the  end 
for  the  grace  that  shall  be  revealed."  Pie  impressively 
reminds  them  of  the  weakness  and  evanescent  nature  of 
everything  human.  He  speaks  of  "  the  precious  blood 
of  Christ  as  a  Lamb  without  spot,"  with  a  fervor  which 
immediately  indicates  him  as  one  who  had  deeply  ex- 
perienced its  healing  power.  It  is  he  who  addresses  the 
warning  to  us,  "  Be  sober,  be  vigilant,  for  your  adversary 
the  devil  goeth  about  as  a  roaring  lion,  seeking  whom  he 
may  devour." 

It  was  not  simply  the  crowing  of  the  cock  that  raised 
Peter  from  his  fall.  Nor  did  the  turning  of  the  Lord 
tow^ard  him  produce  the  desired  effect.  A  third  and 
more  powerful  means  was  added.  What  was  it  ?  A 
word,  a  call,  an  exhortation?  —  No;  a  look  which  the 
eye  of  "the  Keeper  of  Israel"  cast  upon  his  now  un- 
happy disciple,  who  w^as  staggering  on  the  brink  of  des- 
truction. This  look  did  wonders.  "The  Lord  turned, 
and  looked  upon  Peter."  What  a  look  must  that  have 
been !  What  divine  sorrow  and  love  must  it  have  ex- 
pressed !  and  how  accompanied  by  the  eflfulgence  of  the 
Spirit  of  divine  grace  !  It  struck  like  destroying  light- 
ning, and  at  the  same  time  expanded  itself  in  refreshing 
dew.  The  Lord's  look  did  not  fail  of  its  effect  upon 
Peter.  No  sooner  did  the  fallen  disciple's  eyes  meet  his, 
than  the  magic  b?nd  which    held  him  is  dissolved,  the 


UO  PKAYEK. 

Satanic  intoxication  dispelled,  his  ears  opened,  and  re- 
flection returns — nay,  sin  is  acknowledged — his  heart  is 
melted — the  snare  is  broken  and  the  bird  has  escaped 
Luke  xxii.  Gl,  G2 ;  Psalm  cxxiv.  7.  "  The  Lord  knew 
that  Peter  would  fall,  and  his  chief  care  was  lest  he  should 
despair  after  his  fall ;  and  that,  at  the  proper  time,  he 
should  take  courage  to  return  to  him.  Hence,  he  said, 
with  the  kindest  forethought,  "And  when  thou  art  con- 
verted, strengthen  thy  brethren."  Thus  hath  the  faith 
which  the  Holy  Spirit  produces  in  every  true  Soldier  of 
the  Cross,  a  pledge  of  endurance  in  his  Lord's  interces- 
sion. It  may  be  assaulted,  tried  and  shaken,  but  can 
not  be  extinguished  or  annihilated.  Peter  was  given  to 
know  this,  in  order  that  he  might  be  in  possession  of  a 
sufficient  weapon  when  assailed.  But  in  case  of  his 
succumbing,  this  consciousness  was  to  serve  him  as  a 
staff,  by  means  of  which  he  might  successfully  leap  over 
the  abyss  of  despair.  "  I  have  prayed  for  thee,"  says 
the  Lord,  "that  thy  faith  fail  not." 

0  how  the  Lord  loved  his  "  little  flock,"  when  he  took 
their  sins  with  him  into  judgment,  and  cast  himself  into 
the  fire  which  their  transgressions  had  kindled  1  How 
he  loved  them,  Avhen  his  own  blood  did  not  seem  to  him 
too  dear  a  price  to  be  paid  for  them,  although  it  was  they 
who  were  the  transgressors  1  He  loved  them  to  the 
end  ;  and  to  this  day  he  loves  them  that  are  his  in  similar 
manner.  Listen:  "Neither  pray  I  for  these  alone,  but 
(or  them  also  which  shall  believe  on  me  through  their 
word.  'J'hat  they  may  all  be  one,  as  thou,  Father,  art 
in  Me,  and  I  in  Tlit'i/' 


CHAPTER    VII. 

OBEDIENCE     TO     PARENTS. 

What  God  said  in  Abraliam's  praise — The  example  of  Christ — W:irn. 
iugs  to  parents — "I  won't" — Job  and  Solomon  on  Wisdom — The  happy 
child — A  man  shall  be  known  in  his  children — The  life  speaks — Every 
action  has  a  tongue — Ahaziah  and  his  wicked  mother — Their  fearful  end 
— What  a  properly  brought  up  child  hates — What  wicked  children  do — 
What  the  Scriptures  say  of  th«m  and  their  wicked  parents — The  drunk- 
ard and  profane  swearer — Who  is  responsible — "  Am  I  my  brother's 
keeper?" — God  commands  a  disobedient  drunken  son  to  be  stoned  to 
death  by  his  parents. 

Obedience  to  parents  has  all  Scripture  on  its  side.  It 
is  said  in  Abraham's  praise,  not  merely  he  will  train  his 
family,  but  "  he  will  command  his  children  and  his  house- 
hold after  him."  Gen.  xviii.  9  It  is  said  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  himself,  that  when  he  was  young  he  was  subject 
to  Mary  and  Joseph,  as  a  child  of  their  family,  until  he 
was  thirty  years  of  age  ;  and  forgot  not  when  nailed  to 
the  cross,  and  undergoing  the  most  dreadful  of  deaths, 
to  provide  an  effectual  support  and  protection  for  his 
mother. 

See  how  Isaiah  speaks  of  it  as  an  evil  thing  when 
"the  child  shall  behave  himself  proudly  against  the 
ancient."  Isaiah  iii.  5;  Levit.  xix.  32.  Mark  how  St. 
Paul  names  disobedience  to  parents  as  one  of  the  bad 
signs  of  the  latter  days:  "This  know  also,  that  in  the 
last  days  perilous  times  shall  come.     For  men  shall  be 

Oil) 


142  OBEDIENCE    TO    PARENTS. 

lovers  of  their  own  selves,  covetous,  boasters,  proud, 
blasphemers,  disobedient  to  parents,  unthankful,  unholy, 
without  natural  affection,  trucebreakers,  false  accusers, 
incontinent,  fierce ;  despisers  of  those  that  are  good, 
traitors,  heady,  high  minded,  lovers  of  pleasure  more 
than  lovers  of  God;  having  a  form  of  godliness,  but 
denying  the  power  thereof:  from  such  turn  away.''' 
"  But  continue  thou  in  the  things  which  thou  hast  learned 
and  hast  been  assured  of,  knowing  of  whom  thou  hast 
learned  them  ;  and  that  from  a  child  thou  hast  known 
the  holy  Scriptures,  which  are  able  to  make  thee  wise 
unto  salvation  through  faith  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus." 
Rom.  iii.  1-5;  Heb.  iv.  12,  13;  2  Chron.  xxxiv.  3;  1 
Kings  xiv.  13.  Notice  how  he  singles  out  this  grace  as 
one  that  should  adorn  a  Christian  minister,  "A  bishop 
must  be  one  that  ruleth  well  his  own  house,  having  his 
children  in  subjection  Avith  all  gravity.  For  if  a  man 
know  not  how  to  rule  his  own  house,  how  shall  he  take 
care  of  the  Church  of  God?"  Again,  "Let  the  deacons 
rule  their  children  and  their  own  house  well."  And 
again,  "An  elder  must  be  one  having  faithful  children, 
not  accused  of  riot  or  unruly." 

lie  who  resorts  to  human  means,  and  humnn  wisdom 
only,  in  the  training  of  his  family,  and  adopts  the  world's 
cold  and  lifeless  morality,  instead  of  the  living  and 
powerful  word  of  the  glorious  Gospel  of  Christ,  is  sow- 
ing tares  instead  of  wheat;  and  the  crop  will  be  tares, 
and  nothing  but  tares.  Ever}^  parent,  every  person  that 
has  a  child  under  his  care,  ought  to  feel  that  such  child  is 


OBEDIENCE    TO    PARENTS.  143 

God's,  committed  to  him  for  the  express  purpose  of  being 
trained  up  for  God,  for  the  service  and  enjoyment  of 
God,  in  time  and  in  eternity;  and  at  his  liands  will  that 
child  be  required,  if  through  neglect  and  mismanagement, 
it  should  perish  eternally.  "  Train  up  a  child  in  the  way 
he  should  go,  and  when  he  is  old  he  will  not  depart  from 
it."  Prov.  xxii.  G  ;  Deut.  viii.  5.  Think  what  it  is  to 
have  a  promise  like  this.  Promises  were  the  only  lamp 
of  hope  which  cheered  the  hearts  of  the  Patriarchs 
before  the  Bible  was  written.  Enoch,  Noah,  Al)raham, 
Isaac,  Jacob,  Joseph, — all  lived  on  a  few  promises,  and 
prospered  in  their  souls. 

Happy  the  child  who  finds  the  grace, 
The  blessing  of  God's  chosen  race, 
The  wisdom  coming  from  above, 
The  faith  that  sweetly  works  by  love. 

By  the  time  a  child  is  two  years  of  age,  he  ought  to 
be  in  the  habit  of  cheerful  submission  to  w^hatever  he 
knows  to  be  the  will  of  his  parents.  Be  assured  if  your 
child  says  to  any  of  3^our  requirements,  "  I  won't,"  or 
sets  up  resistance  in  the  way  of  crying  and  pouting, 
there  is  a  radical  error  in  your  management,  that  threat- 
ens shipwreck  to  the  w^hole  business  of  education.  Be- 
sides, a  ready,  cheerful  obedience  from  the  early  dawn  of 
reason,  while  it  greatly  facilitates  every  part  of  after- 
education,  is  of  essential  use  to  counteract  the  self-will, 
the  obstinacy,  and  bad  temper  of  a  child,  before  they  are 
confirmed  and  strengthened  by  indulgence.  The  parent 
should  plant  himself  on  this  ground :  "  ^ly  child's  will 


144  OBEDIENCE    TO    PARENTS. 

must  yield  to  mine;'  not  sim})ly  to  gratify  me,  but  from 
principle,  because  God  requires  it ;  and  also  for  his  own 
sake,  it  being  impossible  oiT  any  other  condition  that  he 
can  be  prosperous  and  happy."  Let  the  child  render 
implicit  obedience  to  this  great  statute  of  heaven. 

Every  parent  ought  to  be  fully  aware,  that  it  is  in  the 
early  part  of  childhood,  more  especially,  that  a  corrective 
can  be  applied  to  those  evil  passions  whose  dominion  in 
manhood  will  be  certain  ruin.  "  He  that  spareth  his  rod 
hateth  his  son  ;  but  he  that  loveth  him  chasteneth  him 
betimes."  Prov.  xiii.  24.  "Chasten  thy  son  while  there 
is  hope,  and  let  not  thy  soul  spare  for  his  crying."  Prov. 
ix.  18.  "  Foolishness  is  bound  in  the  heart  of  a  child  ; 
but  the  rod  of  correction  shall  drive  it  from  him."  Prov. 
xxii.  15.  "  Withhold  not  correction  from  the  child,  for 
if  thou  beatest  him  with  the  rod  he  shall  not  die.  Thou 
shalt  beat  him  with  the  rod  and  deliver  his  soul  from 
hell."  Prov.  xxiii.  13,  14.  "The  rod  and  reproof  give 
wisdom  ;  but  a  child  left  to  himself  bringeth  his  mother 
to  shame.  Correct  thy  son  and  he  shall  give  thee  rest, 
yea,  he  shall  give  delight  to  thy  soul." 

After  the  establishment  of  authority  over  the  infant 
mind,  must  commence  the  effort  of  storing  it  with  know- 
ledge. "Wisdom,"  says  Solomon,  "is  the  principal 
thing;  therefore,  get  wisdom."  It  is,  indeed,  the  prin- 
cipal thing ;  as,  without  it,  nothing  valuable  can  be 
acquired.  Job,  speaking  of  its  value,  says,  "  It  cannot 
be  gotten  for  gold,  neither  shall  silver  be  weighed  for  the 
price  thereof.     It  cannot  be  valued  with  the  gold  of 


OBEDIEXCE    TO    PARENTS.  145 

Opiiir,  with  the  precious  onyx  or  the  sapphire.  The 
gold  and  crystal  cannot  equal  it:  and  the  exchange  of  it 
shall  not  be  for  jewels  of  fine  gold.  No  mention  shall  be 
made  of  coral,  or  of  pearls  :  for  the  price  of  wisdom  is 
above  rubies.  The  topaz  of  Ethiopia  shall  not  equal  it, 
neither  shall  it  be  valued  with  pure  gold."  Job  xxviii. 
15-19;  Prov.  xv.  33;  xxiv.  7;  Coloss.  ii.  3.  "Happy 
is  the  man  that  findeth  wisdom,  and  the  man  that  getteth 
understanding:  for  the  merchandise  of  it  is  better  than 
the  merchandise  of  silver,  and  the  gain  thereof  than  fine 
gold.  She  is  more  precious  than  rubies  :  and  all  the 
things  thou  canst  desire  are  not  to  be  compared  unto 
her.  Length  of  days  is  in  her  right  hand  ;  and  in  her 
left  hand  riches  and  honour.  Her  ways  are  ways  of 
pleasantness,  and  all  her  paths  are  paths  of  peace.  She 
is  a  tree  of  life  to  them  that  lay  hold  upon  her:  and 
happy  is  every  one  that  retaineth  her.  The  Lord  by 
wisdom  hath  founded  the  earth;  by  understanding  hath 
he  established  the  heavens.  By  his  knowledge  the 
depths  are  broken  up,  and  the  clouds  drop  down  the  dew. 
My  son,  let  them  not  depart  from  thine  eyes  :  keep  sound 
wisdom  and  discretion:  so  shall  they  be  life  unto  thy 
soul,  and  grace  to  thy  neck.  Then  shalt  thou  walk  in 
thy  way  safely,  and  thy  foot  shall  not  stumble.  When 
thou  liest  down,  thou  shalt  not  be  afraid;  yea,  thou  shalt 
lie  down,  and  thy  sleep  shall  be  sweet." 

It  is  remarkable  that  all  the  promises  of  God  to  his 
people    are    formally  and    avowedly  extended   to   their 
children  as  well  as  to  themselves.     This  was  a  funda- 
13 


146  OBEDIENCE    TO    PAKENTS. 

mental  idea  in  his  covenant  with  Abraham  :  "  I  will 
establish  my  covenant  between  me  and  thee,  and  thy 
seed  after  thee,  in  their  generations,  for  an  everlasting 
covenant,  to  be  a  God  unto  thee  and  to  thy  seed  after 
thee.  And  I  will  give  unto  thee  and  thy  seed  a/ter  thee 
the  land  wherein  thou  art  a  stranger,  all  the  land  of 
Canaan,  for  an  everlasting  possession,  and  I  will  be  their 
God.  This  is  my  covenant  between  me  and  you,  and 
thy  seed  after  thee :  Every  man-child  among  you  shall 
be  circumcised."  A  foresight  of  Abraham's  faithfulness 
and  success  in  training  up  his  children  religiously  was 
the  ground  of  God's  especial  confidence  in  him  :  "  Shall 
I  hide  from  Abraham  the  thing  which  I  do?  —  For  I 
know  him,  that  he  will  command  his  children  and  his 
household  after  him,  and  they  shall  keep  the  way  of  the 
Lord,  to  do  judgment  and  justice."  Let  the  impression 
dwell  upon  your  heart,  and  stimulate  your  every-day's 
effort,  that  in  proportion  that  you  make  your  child  wise, 
wise  in  the  possession  of  every  useful  kind  of  knowledge, 
but  especially  the  knowledge  of  "  the  living  and  true 
God,  and  Jesus  Christ  whom  he  hath  sent,"  you  bring 
within  his  reach  the  means  of  every  kind  of  usefulness 
and  comfort,  here  and  hereafter  ;  while,  without  it,  there 
can  be  nothing  but  degradation  and  wretchedness  in 
time,  and,  through  eternity,  everlasting  perdition,  from 
that  God  who  hath  pronounced  on  the  people  of  "  no 
understanding,"  "  that  the  God  who  made  them  will  not 
have  mercy  on  them  ;  he  that  formed  them  will  show 
them  no  favor." 


OBEDIENCE    TO    PARENTS.  147 

The  most  unwearied  diligence  is  to  be  used  in  coni- 
niunicating  this  instruction,  especially  as  it  regards  re- 
ligious knowledge.  As  God  himself  has  commanded, 
*'  Ye  shall  teach  them  your  children,  speaking  of  them 
when  thou  sittest  in  thine  house,  and  when  thou  w^alkesi 
by  the  way,  when  thou  liest  down,  and  when  thou  risest 
up  ;  and  thou  shalt  write  them  upon  the  door-posts  of 
thine  house,  and  upon  thy  gates."  Deut.  xi.  19,  20;  1 
Sam.  iii.  13.  Let  those  who  have  failed  in  training  up 
their  children  to  wisdom  and  piety,  inquire  whether  their 
diligence  has  been,  from  the  early  dawn  of  reason,  any- 
thing like  what  is  here  required.  It  is  said  of  Eli,  that 
he  honored  his  sons  above  God ;  and  what  was  the  end 
of  Eli  and  his  depraved  sous  ?  He  lived  to  hear  of  the 
death  of  both  his  sons,  and  his  grey  hairs  were  brought 
down  with  sorrow  to  the  grave.  1  Sam.  ii.  29;  iv.  18. 
In  addition  to  this,  the  Lord  pronounced  the  following 
sentence  against  his  house  : — 

"And  the  Lord  called  Samuel  again  the  third  time;  and  he 
arose  and  went  to  Eli,  and  said,  Here  am  I ;  for  thou  didst  call 
nip.  And  E!i  perceived  that  the  Lord  had  called  the  child.  There- 
fore, Eli  said  unto  Samuel,  Go,  lie  down:  and  it  shall  be,  if  He 
call  thee,  that  thou  shalt  say,  Speak,  Lord,  for  thy  servant 
heareth.  So  Samuel  went  and  lay  down  in  his  place.  And  the 
Lord  came  and  cnlled  as  at  other  times,  Samuel,  Samuel.  Then 
Samuel  answered,  Speak,  Lord,  for  thy  servant  heareth.  And  the 
Lord  said  to  Samuel,  Behold,  I  will  do  a  thing  in  Israel,  at  which 
both  the  ears  of  every  one  that  heareth  it  shall  tingle.  In  that 
(lay  will  I  perform  against  Eli  all  things  which  I  have  spoken  con- 
cerning his  house :  when  I  begin  I  will  also  make  an  end.  For  I 
have  told  him  that  I  will  judge  his  house  for  ever  for  the  iniquity 
which  he  knoweth  ;  because  his  sons  made  themselves  vile,  and 


148  OBEDIENCE    TO    PAEENTS. 

he  restrained  them  not.  And  therefore  I  have  sworn  unto  the 
house  of  Eli,  that  the  iniquity  of  Eli's  house  shall  not  be  purged 
with  sacrifice  nor  offering  for  ever." 

Virtuous  youth  gradually  brings  forward  accomplished 
and  flourishing  manhood ;  and  such  manhood  passes  of 
itself,  without  uneasiness,  into  respectable  and  tranquil 
old  age.  But  when  nature  is  turned  out  of  its  regular 
course,  disorder  takes  place  in  the  moral  just  as  in  the 
vegetable  world.  As,  in  the  succession  of  the  seasons, 
each,  by  the  invariable  laws  of  Nature,  affects  the  pro- 
ductions of  what  is  next  in  course  ;  so,  in  human  life, 
every  period  of  our  age,  according  as  it  is  well  or  ill 
spent,  influences  the  happiness  of  that  which  is  to  follow. 
If  the  spring  put  forth  no  blossoms,  in  summer  there 
will  be  no  beauty,  and  in  autumn  no  fruit.  So,  if  youth 
be  trifled  away  without  improvement,  manhood  Avill  be 
contemptible,  and  old  age  miserable.  If  the  beginnings 
of  life  have  been  "  vanity,"  its  latter  end  can  be  no  other 
than  "vexation  of  spirit." 

By  cool  Siloam's  shady  rill 

How  sweet  the  lily  grows  ! 
How  sweet  the  breath,  beneath  the  hill, 

Of  Sharon's  dewy  rose ! 
Lo  !   such  the  child  whose  early  feet 

The  paths  of  peace  have  trod — 
Whose  secret  heart,  with  influence  sweet, 

Is  upward  drawn  to  God. 
By  cool  Siloam's  shady  rill 

The  lily  must  decay ; 
The  rose  that  blooms  beneath  the  hill 

Must  shortly  fade  away. 

A  man  shall  be  known  in  his  children.     Ecclesiasticus 


OBEDIENCE   TO    PARENTS.  149 

xi.  28:  Jor.  xxxv.  18,  19;  Ezek.  xvi,  44;  Hosca  iv.  0. 
Children,  in  the  first  instance,  learn  almost  evcrythint!; 
by  imitation.  It  seems  to  be  a  law  of  their  nature  to 
do  what  they  see  others  do.  Hence  the  fact  so  univer- 
sally observed,  that  the  children  grow  up  to  be  like  those 
with  whom  they  are  reared.  Just  in  proportion  to  the 
depravity  of  the  society  among  whom  they  dwell,  is  the 
difficulty  and  danger  in  training  up  a  family  for  God. 
Kegard  it,  then,  as  essential  to  j^our  success,  that  you 
should  be  before  your  children,  what  you  would  have 
them  to  be.  Teach  them  to  be  wise,  by  acting  wisely 
in  their  presence.  Teach  them  love,  and  faith,  and 
humility,  and  godly  fear,  and  other  Christian  graces,  by 
habitually  acting  those  graces  before  their  eyes.  Keeping 
your  children  much  with  yourself,  taking  them  daily  to 
the  throne  of  grace,  and  exemplifying  in  simplicity  and 
godly  sincerity,  the  true  Christian  character  before  them, 
it  will  be  marvellous  indeed,  if,  in  due  time,  you  have 
not  the  unspeakable  happiness  of  seeing  "  some  good 
thing  toward  the  Lord"  in  them.  Example  is  a  living 
lesson.     The  life  speaks.     Every  action  has  a  tongue. 

Happy  the  cliild  wlio  wisdom  gains; 
Thrice  happy  who  his  Guest  retains 
lie  owns,   and  shall  forever  own, 
Wisdom,   and  Christ,    and  heaven  are  one. 

Xuthing  can  be  more  certain  than  that  impious  or  pro- 
fane thoughts,  uttered  by  a  parent,  makes  an  impression 
on  the  young  heart  which  nothing  can  efface.  Such  a 
parent  may  be  a  member  of  church,  or  even  a  preacher 

18* 


150  OBEDIENCE   TO    PARENTS. 

of  the  Gospel,  and  pra}^  and  sing,  night  and  morning, 
but  this  will  only  add  to  his  guilt,  "  For  the  wrath  of 
God  is  revealed  from  heaven  against  all  ungodliness  and 
unrighteousness  of  men,  who  hold  the  truth  in  unright- 
eousness." "  If  God  spared  not  the  angels  that  sinned, 
but  cast  them  down  to  hell,"  and  spared  not  the  old 
world,  and  destroyed  the  people  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrha, 
on  account  of  their  "  filthy  conversation  and  unlawful 
deeds,"  will  he  spare  parents  whose  filthy  conversation 
and  unlawful  deeds  lead  their  children  to  hell  ?  No  ;  he 
will  not  spare  them,  for  he  declares  that  he  will  tear  them 
in  pieces.  Psalm  1.  22 ;  Rev.  xxi.  2t.  There  is  none 
upon  earth  more  desperately  wicked  than  the  parent  who 
neglects,  or  refuses,  to  train  up  his  children  for  useful- 
ness and  heaven.  Indeed  he  is  infinitely  more  guilty 
than  a  common  murderer,  inasmuch  as  he  destroys  the 
souls  of  his  own  children  ;  and  through  their  vile  exam- 
ple, the  souls  of  other  children. 

It  is  said  of  Ahaziah,  king  of  Israel,  that  he  walked  in 
the  ways  of  the  house  of  Ahab,  for  Athaliah,  "  his  mo- 
ther, was  his  counsellor  to  do  wickedly ; ''  and  that  this 
led  "to  his  destruction."  It  is  written  of  the  sons  of 
this  wicked  woman,  that  they  "  had  broken  up  the  house 
of  God ;  and  also  all  the  dedicated  things  of  the  house 
of  the  Lord  did  they  bestow  upon  Baalim."  But  a 
dreadful  doom  overtook  them  and  their  wicked  mother. 
(See  the  22d  and  23d,  and  24th  Chapters  of  2  Chronicles.) 

The  parent  is  the  natural  guardian  of  the  in-tellect  and 
heart  of  his  child,  and  God  will   hold  him  responsible 


OBEBIEXCK    TO    PARENTS.  151 

who  deputt's  his  duties  to  auother.  The  father  reiire- 
sents  the  divine  Lawgiver,  whose  vicegerent  he  is  for 
carrying  out  the  gracious  designs  of  an  infinite  benevo- 
lence, in  the  establishment  of  upright  principles,  and  the 
formation  of  a  pure,  virtuous  character.  Almost  every- 
thing depends  on  preoccupying  the  soul  with  right  habits, 
of  which  none  is  so  intimately  connected  with  favorable 
religious  developments,  as  the  habit  of  obedience  to  legi- 
timate authority.  This  is  a  strictly  fundamental  principle 
in  the  Christian  religion,  and  should  be  the  first  object 
in  family  government.  Every  parent  who  fails  in  estab- 
lishing this  unquestioned  dominion  over  his  child,  does 
in  the  same  degree  entail  upon  him  a  curse  of  fearful 
omen.  It  may  be  laid  down  as  a  Christian  axiom,  that 
the  rebellious  spirit  which  refuses  obedience  to  parents, 
will  be  the  last  to  render  it  to  God. 

Dr.  Johnson  gave  this  advice  to  parents :  "Accustom 
your  children  to  a  strict  attention  to  truth,  even  in  the 
most  minute  particulars.  If  a  thing  happen  at  one  win- 
dow, and  they  when  relating  it  say  that  it  happened  at 
another,  do  not  let  it  pass,  but  instantly  check  them ; 
you  do  not  know  where  deviation  from  truth  will  end. 
It  is  more  from  carelessness  about  truth  than  from  inten- 
tional lying  that  there  is  so  much  falsehood  in  the 
world."  The  evil  and  injustice  of  lying  appear,  1.  From 
its  b,  ing  a  breach  of  the  natural  and  universal  right  of 
mank  'd  to  truth  in  the  intercourse  of  speech.  2.  From 
its  being  a  violation  of  God's  sacred  law.  Phil.  iv.  8 ; 
Levit.  xix.  11;  Col.  iii.  9.     3.  The  faculty  of  speech  was 


152  OBEDIKXCE    TO    PARENTS. 

bestowed  as  an  instrument  of  knowledge,  not  of  deceit ; 
to  communicate  our  thoughts,  not  to  hide  them.  4.  It 
is  esteemed  a  reproach  of  so  heinous  and  hateful  a  na- 
ture for  a  man  to  be  called  a  liar,  that  sometimes  the  life 
and  blood  of  the  slanderer  have  paid  for  it,  5.  It  has  a 
tendency  to  dissolve  all  society,  and  to  indispose  the 
mind  to  religious  impressions.  6.  The  punishment  of  it 
is,  the  loss  of  credit,  the  hatred  of  those  whom  we  have 
deceived,  and  an  eternal  separation  from  God.  Rev.  xxi. 
8  ;  xxii.  15  ;  Psalm  ci.  7  ;  Jer.  ix.  3 ;  Amos  ii.  4  ;  Zech. 
viii.  Ifi,  n. 

A  properly  brought  up  child  is  always  obedient  to  his 
parents,  and  hates  idleness  and  lying,  because  he  knows 
that  while  the  one  "  shall  clothe  a  man  with  rags,"  the 
other  wnll  bring  him  to  shame,  and  sink  his  soul  in  eter- 
nal ruin.  Prov.  xxiii.  21  ;  Rev.  xxi.  8.  He  never  takes 
the  name  of  God  in  vain,  or  utters  any  oath  or  degrading 
expression,  because  he  knows  that  all  blasphemers, 
sw^earers,  liars,  and  filthy  talkers  are  children  of  the 
devil,  and  will  be  with  him,  in  his  "  own  place,"  when 
they  die.  Levit.  xxiv.  10-lG  ;  Zech.  v.  3,  4;  John  viii. 
44  ;  Eph.  ii.  2  ;  2  Peter  ii.  4-8  ;  Rev.  xxi.  8  ;  xxii.  11,  15. 
He  never  throws  stones  at  other  children,  or  at  animals, 
or  birds,  because  he  knows  that  none  but  the  most  de- 
praved children  are  ever  guilty  of  such  ungodly  and  un- 
neighborly  conduct.  He  is  cleanly  and  neat  in  person, 
and  mannerly,  and  learns  his  lessons  cheerfully,  .because 
he  loves  God,  and  his  parents,  and  hopes  to  become  a 
useful  and  respected  member  of  Christian  society.     He 


OBEDIENCE    TO    PxVREXTS.  153 

not  only  reiuk'r.s  cheerful  obedience  to  his  parents,  but 
makes  them  repositories  of  all  his  secrets.  There  is 
nothing  clandestine  in  his  movx'ments.  He  takes  no 
step  without  consulting  them,  lie  tells  them  all  his 
})lans  and  all  his  troubles,  and  seeks  their  advice  in 
everything.  He  is  not  smitten  or  carried  away  with  the 
attention  of  strangers,  for  he  knows  "not  the  voice  of 
strangers."  He  allows  no  human  being  to  alienate  his 
interest  from  his  parents ;  nor  does  he  set  up  a  separate 
interest  under  the  idea  of  personal  independence.  He 
goes  with  his  parents  to  the  Sanctuary,  unites  his  re- 
ligious sympathies  with  theirs,  and  listens  to  the  truth 
as  it  is  in  Jesus, — as  it  is  in  the  Evangelical  or  New 
Testament  churches.  Principle,  not  fashion  or  caprice, 
governs  his  movements  in  these  respects.  His  likes  and 
dislikes  are  all  sacrificed  on  the  altar  of  filial  affection. 
He  knows  if  he  is  led  hither  and  thither  as  fashion  or 
caprice  or  self-indulgence  may  prompt,  he  will  find  ere 
many  years  are  passed  over  his  head,  that  his  course, 
like  that  of  Esau,  may  bring  upon  him  consequences 
which  he  will  have  reason  to  deplore  whilst  yet  there  is 
left  no  space  for  repentance.  Heb.  xii.  IG,  17;  Prov.  i. 
24-28;  Levit.  xix.  3;  Deut.  v.  IG. 

Thrice  happy  is  the  youth, 

Who,  morning,  noon,  and  night, 
Reads  the  blest  page  of  sacred  truth. 

And  makes  it  his  delight;  — 

He  loves  the  hour  of  prayer, 

And  takes  delight  in  praise: 
The  Lord  to  bless  him  will  be  near 

With  sanctifying  grace. 


15^  OBEDIEXCE    TO    PARENTS. 

Uiidutif'ul  or  vile  children,  fill  the  minds  of  all  good 
men  with  loathing  and  horror;  and  they  are  objects  of 
still  more  abhorrence  to  God  than  men.  Deut.  xxi.  18- 
21 ;  1  Sam.  ill.  10-14 ;  2  Kings  ii.  23,  24.  It  is  written 
of  the  parents  of  such  children,  as  well  as  the  children 
tluuiiselves,  that  "  The  shew  of  their  countenance  doth 
witness  against  them  ;  and  they  declare  their  sin  as 
Sodom,  they  hide  it  not."  Isaiah  iii.  9 ;  Ezek.  xvi.  19;  2 
Peter  ii.  Y,  8.  When  wicked  behaviour,  or  irreligious 
practices,  have  gained  such  headway  as  to  destroy  the 
beauty  of  the  countenance,  what  must  be  the  condition  of 
the  soul  of  such  a  person  ?  But,  thanks  be  to  God,  the 
religion  of  the  glorious  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  is  able  to 
change  the  boldness  of  the  most  repulsive  face,  and 
make  it  shine  with  beams  of  heavenly  beauty.  Eccles. 
viii.  1 :  Prov.  xx.  11  ;  Matt.  vii.  16.  By  these  never- 
failing  indications  we  are  able  to  distinguish  the  children 
of  Light  from  the  children  of  darkness.  The  parents  of 
the  latter  "  hate  him  that  rebuketh  in  the  gate,  and  they 
abhor  him  that  speaketh  uprightly."  Like  the  children 
of  Belial  in  the  days  of  Jeremiah  the  prophet,  they  say, 
"  Come,  let  us  smite  him  with  the  tongue,  and  not  give 
heed  to  any  of  his  words."  The  Psalmist,  speaking  of 
this  class  of  men,  says,  "  Hide  me  from  the  secret  coun- 
sel of  the  wicked ;  from  the  insurrection  of  the  workers 
of  iniquity :  who  whet  their  tongue  like  a  sword,  and 
bend  their  bows  to  shoot  their  arrows,  even  bitter  words: 
that  they  may  shoot  in  secret  at  the  perfect:  suddenly 
do  they  shoot  at  him,  and   fear  not.     They  encourage 


Ol^EDIEXCE    TO    PARENTS.  165 

theiuselvoy  in  an  evil  matter:  they  conuuune  of  laying 
snares  privily ;  they  say,  Who  shall  see  them  ?"  A 
dreadful  doom  awaits  such  men.  Deut.  xxxii.  35  ;  Job 
xxi.  30,  31 ;  Psalm  xi.  6  ;  Matt.  xxv.  41-4G  ;  2  Peter  ii. 
4-12:  Jude  5-8;  Rev.  xxi.  8. 

There  is  one  clear  and  distinct  ground  upon  which  we 
mtiy  limit  the  application  of  a  precept  that  is  couched  in 
absolute  language  —  the  unlaw^fulness,  in  any  given  con- 
jecture, of  obeying  it.  "  Submit  yourselves  to  every 
ordinance  of  man."  1  Peter  ii.  13.  This,  literally,  is  an 
unconditional  command.  But  if  we  were  to  obey  it  un- 
conditionally, we  should  sometimes  comply  with  human, 
in  opposition  to  Divine  laws.  In  such  cases,  then,  the 
obligation  is  clearly  suspended ;  and  this  distinction  the 
teachers  of  Christianity  recognized  in  their  practice. 
When  "an  ordinance  of  man"  required  them  to  forbear 
the  promulgation  of  the  doctrines  of  the  New  Testament, 
thev  refused  obedience  ;  and  urged  the  befitting  expostu- 
lation—  "Whether  it  be  right  in  the  sight  of  God  to 
hearken  unto  you  more  than  unto  God,  judge  ye."  Acts 
iv.  19.  They  accordingly  "entered  into  the  temple  early 
in  the  morning  and  taught;"  and  when,  subsequently, 
they  were  again  brought  before  the  council  and  interro- 
gated, they  replied,  "  We  ought  to  obey  God  rather  than 
men;"  and  notwithstanding  the  renewed  command  of 
the  council,  "  daily  in  the  temple  and  in  every  house, 
they  ceased  not  to  teach  and  preach  Jesus  Christ."  Acts 
V.  29,  42.  So,  too,  with  the  filial  relationship  :  "  Children, 
obey  your  parents  in  all  things."  Col.  iii.  20.     But  a  pa- 


156  OBEDIENCE    TO    PARENTS. 

rent  may  require  his  child  to  go  to  the  rum-shop  for 
liquor;  to  lie,  steal,  or  go  with  him  to  an  infidel  meeting, 
the  theatre,  dance-house,  or  some  other  place  of  debauch- 
ery, and  therefore  when  a  parent  requires  obedience  in 
such  things  his  authority  ceases,  and  the  obligation  to 
obedience  is  taken  away  by  the  moral  law  itself  The 
precept  is  virtually  this  :  Obey  your  parents  in  all  things, 
unless  disobedience  is  required  by  the  will  of  God ;  and 
that  is  so  clearly  set  forth  in  the  Bible,  that  "  w^ayfaring 
men,  though  fools,  shall  not  err  therein."  All  human 
authority  ceases  at  the  point  w^here  obedience  becomes 
criminal.  We  have  clear  illustrations  of  this  in  the  fol- 
lowing passages  of  Scripture  : — 

"  If  thy  Li'other,  the  son  of  thy  mother,  or  thy  son,  or  thy 
daughter,  or  the  wife  of  thy  bosom,  or  thy  friend,  which  is  as 
thine  own  soul,  entice  thee,  saying.  Let  us  go  and  serve  other 
gods,  which  thou  hast  not  known,  thou,  nor  thy  fathers ;  namely, 
of  the  gods  of  the  people  which  are  round  about  you,  nigh  unto 
thee,  or  far  from  thee,  from  the  one  end  of  the  earth  even  unto 
the  other  end  of  the  earth ;  thou  shalt  not  consent  unto  him,  nor 
hearken  unto  him ;  neither  shall  thine  eye  pity  him,  neither  shalt 
thou  spare,  neither  shalt  thou  conceal  him :  but  thou  shalt  surely 
kill  him  ;  thine  hand  shall  be  first  upon  him  to  put  him  to  death, 
and  afterward  the  hand  of  all  the  people.  And  thou  shalt  stone 
him  with  stones,  that  he  die ;  because  he  hath  sought  to  thrust 
thee  away  from  the  Lord  thy  God,  which  brought  thee  out  of  the 
land  of  Egypt,  from  the  house  of  bondage.  And  all  Israel  shall 
hear,  and  fear,  and  shall  do  no  more  any  such  wickedness  as  this 
among  you."  (Deut.  xiii.  0-11  ;  Jer.  xvii.  5.)  Again,  "He  that 
loveth  father  or  mother  more  than  Me  is  not  worthy  of  me  :  and 
he  that  loveth  son  or  daughter  more  than  Me  is  not  worthy  of  me. 
And  he  that  taketh  not  his  cross,  and  followeth  after  Me  is  not 
worthy  of  me." 


OBEDIEXCE    TO    PARENTS.  157 

God  manifests  his  abhorrence  of  wicked  children  in 
these  words  :  "If  a  man  have  a  stubborn  and  rebellious 
son,  which  will  not  obey  the  voice  of  his  father,  or  the 
voice  of  his  mother,  and  that,  when  they  have  chastened 
him,  will  not  hearken  unto  them,  then  shall  his  father 
and  his  mother  lay  hold  on  him,  and  bring  him  out  unto 
the  elders  of  his  city,  and  unto  the  gate  of  his  place  ;  and 
they  shall  say  unto  the  elders  of  his  city,  This  our  son  is 
stubborn  and  rebellious,  he  will  not  obey  our  voice  ;  he 
is  a  glutton,  and  a  drunkard.  And  all  the  men  of  his 
city  shall  stone  him  with  stones  that  he  die  :  so  shall 
thou  put  evil  away  from  among  you  ;  all  Israel  shall 
hear,  and  fear."  Deut.  xxi.  18-21 ;  Prov.  xxii.  6  ;  Eccles. 
iv.  13. 

The  Scriptures  declare  that  no  drunkard  or  profane 
swearer  shall  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God.  There  is  no 
limitation  to  this  edict,  —  it  is  absolutely  positive.  How- 
then  shall  w^e  estimate  the  nature  of  those  vices,  which 
doom  their  perpetrators  to  hell  ?  The  man  w^ho  takes 
my  little  son,  whom  I  love  as  I  love  myself,  and  strikes 
into  his  throbbing  heart  an  assassin's  knife,  and  draws  it 
forth  reeking  with  his  innocent  blood,  and  hurls  in  my 
face  the  murdered  child  and  the  fatal  weapon  with  which 
the  murderous  blow  was  inflicted,  commits  a  deed  which 
causes  every  impulse  and  sensibility  of  my  nature  to  re- 
coil in  agony  far  too  intense  for  language  to  describe. 
The  eye  turns  instinctively  from  it  as  something  too 
horrible  to  be  seen,  and  it  is  enough  to  madden  any  fond 
parent's  brain.  But  the  man  who  seduces  this  same 
14 


158  OBEDIENCE    TO    PARENTS, 

child  into  the  haunts  of  vice  —  who  leads  him  into  the 
path  of  moral  obliquity  from  God —  who  puts  to  his  lips 
the  poisoned  chalice,  drugged  with  spiritual  death,  and 
constrains  or  induces  him  to  drink  it  —  that  man  perpe- 
trates a  deed,  in  the  sight  of  God,  far  more  hideous  in  its 
natui'e  than  the  other  —  far  more  revolting  to  the  pious 
parent's  heart — far  more  ruinous  in  its  consequences. 
He  is  a  murderer  of  deeper  dye,  for  he  is  a  murderer  of 
the  soul.  Far  better  that  my  dear  child  had  perished  by 
the  vile  assassin's  hand  —  far  better  that  I  had  felt  the 
delirium  of  agony  over  his  mangled,  bleeding  remains, 
and  enjoyed  the  conviction  that  his  spirit  had  gone,  re- 
deemed by  Christ,  to  his  heavenly  Father,  than  that  I 
should  be  compelled  to  witness  him  a  moral  suicide, 
"  without  God  and  without  hope  in  the  world." 

The  late  celebrated  Benjamin  Rush,  M.  D.,  of  Phila- 
delphia, speaking  of  the  effects  of  ardent  spirits  upon  the 
human  body  and  mind,  said,  "  This  odious  disease  of 
drunkenness  —  for  by  that  name  it  should  be  called  — 
appears  with  more  or  less  of  the  following  symptoms, 
and  most  commonly  in  the  order  in  which  I  shall 
enumerate  them : 

1.  Unusual  garrulity. 

2.  Unusual  silence. 

3.  Captiousness,  or  a  disposition  to  find  fault  and 
quarrel. 

4.  Uncommon  good-humor,  and  an  insipid  simpering 
or  laugh. 

5.  Profane  swearing  and  cursing. 


OBEDIENCE    TO    PAKEXTS.  159 

6.  A  dirtclo.sure  of  their  own  and  other  people's  secrets. 
T.  A  rude  disposition  to  tell  those  persons  in  company 
whom  they  know,  their  faults. 

8.  Certain  immodest  actions. 

9.  Clipping  of  words. 

10.  Fighting ;  a  black  eye,  or  a  swelled  nose. 

11.  Certain  extravagant  acts  which  indicate  a  tempo- 
rary fit  of  madness.  These  are  singing  vile  ballads  or 
songs,  hallooing,  roaring,  imitating  the  noises  of  four- 
legged  brutes,  jumping,  tearing  off  clothes,  dancing  naked, 
breaking  glasses  and  china,  and  dashing  other  articles  of 
household  furniture  upon  the  ground  or  floor.  After  a 
while  the  paroxysm  of  drunkenness  is  completely  formed. 
The  face  now  becomes  flushed,  the  eyes  project,  and  are 
somewhat  watery,  winking  is  less  frequent  than  is  natu- 
ral ;  the  under  lip  is  protruded  or  stuck  out — the  head 
inclines  a  little  to  one  shoulder — the  jaw  falls — belching 
and  hiccough  take  place — the  limbs  totter — the  whole 
body  staggers,  and  the  wretched  man  soon  falls  on  his 
seat.  He  now^  looks  around  him  with  a  vacant  counte- 
nance, mutters  inarticulate  sounds  to  himself,  and 
attempts  to  rise  and  walk,  but  falls  upon  his  side,  from 
which  he  gradually  turns  upon  his  back.  He  now  closes 
his  eyes  and  falls  into  a  profound  sleep,  frequently 
attended  with  loud  snoring,  and  profuse  sweats.  In 
this  condition  he  often  lies  one,  two,  three,  four,  and  five 
days,  an  object  of  pity  and  disgust  to  his  injured  family 
and  friends.  His  recovery  from  this  fit  of  intoxication 
is  marked  with  several  peculiar  appearances      He  opens 


160  OBEDIENCE    TO    PARENTS. 

his  eyes  and  closes  them  again — he  gapes  and  stretches 
his  limbs — he  rises  with  difficulty,  and  staggers  to  a 
chair — his  eyes  resemble  balls  of  fire— his  hands  tremble 
— he  loathes  the  sight  of  food — he  calls  for  a  glass  of 
whiskey  and  a  red  herring  to  '  compose  '  his  stomach  ! — 
now  and  then  he  emits  a  deep-fetched  sigh,  or  groan, 
from  a  transient  twinge  of  conscience  ;  but  he  more  fre- 
quently scolds,  and  curses  his  wife  and  children,  and 
everything  around  him.  In  this  stage  of  languor  and 
stupidity  he  remains  for  two  or  three  days,  before  he  is 
able  to  resume  his  work." 

Thomas  Sewall,  M.  D.,  Professor  of  Anatomy  and 
Physiology  in  the  Columbian  College,  Washington  City, 
D.  C,  speaking  of  the  effects  of  ardent  spirits  upon  the 
human  body  and  mind,  said,  "  On  examining  the  lungs 
of  the  drunkard  after  death,  they  are  frequently  found 
adhering  to  the  walls  of  the  chest ;  hepatized,  or  affected 
with  tubercles.  The  drunkard  dies  easily,  and  from 
slight  causes.  A  sudden  cold,  a  pleurisy,  a  fever,  a 
fractured  limb,  or  a  slight  wound  of  the  skin  is  often 
more  than  his  shattered  powers  can  endure.  Even  a 
little  excess  of  exertion,  an  exposure  to  heat  or  cold,  a 
hearty  repast,  or  a  glass  of  cold  vvater,  not  unfrequently 
extinguishes  the  small  remains  of  the  vital  principle. 
Many  of  those  deaths  which  came  under  my  notice 
seemed  almost  spontaneous,  and  some  of  them  took 
place  in  less  than  one  hour  from  the  first  symptoms  of 
indisposition."  "  But  time  would  fail  me  were  I  to  at- 
tempt an  account  of  half  the  pathology  of  drunkennesa 


OEEDIEXCE    TO    PARENTS.  161 

And  who  is  the  responsible  author  of  all  this?  1  appeal 
to  any  fellow-citizen.  Are  not  we  the  authors?  The 
power  emanates  from  us;  we  delegate  it  to  the  consti- 
tuted authorities,  and  we  say  to  them,  '  Go  on  ;  cast  fire- 
l)rands,  arrows,  and  death ;  and  let  the  blood  of  those 
that  perish  be  on  us  and  on  our  children.'  Every  mem- 
ber of  society  is  morally  and  politically  constituted,  by 
the  relations  he  sustains,  his  'brother's  keeper.'  To 
deny  this  position  is  to  assume  grounds  with  Cain,  the 
first  murderer." 

No  human  being  suffers  alone.  He  is  a  member  of  a 
body  politic,  and  as  such,  contributes  his  pains  to  others, 
according  to  the  more  or  less  intimate  relationship  exist- 
ing between  them.  If  he  has  submitted  himself  to  be 
victimized  by  a  ruinous  appetite  or  passion,  and  falls 
into  sin,  he  draws  others  with  him  to  participate  in  the 
woes  consequent  upon  his  transgressions,  though  they 
may  not  be  involved  in  his  personal  guilt.  Considering 
the  frightful  crimes  which  the  sale  of  intoxicating  drinks 
is  the  direct  or  incidental  cause,  there  is  not  an  intelli- 
gent man  who  will  not  declare  it  the  most  immoral  and 
demoralizing  business  that  is  pursued  on  earth.  The 
injury  it  inflicts  on  the  buyer,  the  seller,  and  society,  is, 
in  fact  immeasurable  and  incalculable.  It  is  wide-spread, 
overwhelming,  appalling.  Terms  are  too  weak  to  express 
it:  the  reality  far  exceeds  any  epithets  wiiich  can  be 
employed  to  describe  it.  The  earth  groans  under  it. 
Man  cries  to  man  and  to  heaven  for  deliverance  from  it. 
The  bodies  of  some  drunkards  have  been  so  thoroughly 
14* 


162  OBEDiEXCE    TO    PARENTS. 

Steeped  in  spirit  as  literally  to  take  fire  aud  consume  to 
ashes.  There  is  doubtless  far  more  danger  than  has  been 
^  imagined,  in  a  drunkard's  bringing  his  mouth  or  nose 
near  a  lighted  taper.  The  wonder  is  that  instances  of 
combustion  are  not  of  daily  occurrence.  Medical  writers 
cite  numerous  cases.     Ploquet  mentions  twenty-eight. 

The  family  circle  are  most  interested  in  the  reforma- 
tion of  that  individual  of  their  number  who  has  become 
addicted  to  vice  of  any  description,  because  they  are  most 
directly  involved  in  the  evils  which  such  vice  produces ; 
and  next  to  the  family  circle,  the  community  in  which 
the  criminal  has  his  residence  are  implicated  most  in  the 
consequences  of  his  crimes,  and  have  the  greatest  amount 
of  interest  in  his  recovery  from  his  destructive  habits. 
But  this  is  not  all.  Power  to  reform  is  proportionate  to 
the  interest  involved.  The  mutual  influence,  either  for 
good  or  evil,  inherent  in  the  family  constitution,  is 
almost  omnipotent.  If  this  influence  be  exerted  aright, 
and  perseveringly  exerted,  for  the  reformation  of  the 
inebriate,  it  can  seldom  fail  of  success.  But  if  the  mem- 
bers of  the  family  circle  neglect,  or  refuse,  to  exercise  the 
reforming*  power  with  which  the}^  have  been  endowed, 
then  are  they  responsible  for  the  whole  amount  of  such 
neglect,  or  refusal.  The  same  remarks,  substantially, 
are  appropriate  to  the  community.  It  is  their  duty,  as 
well  as  their  interest,  that  every  member  should  regard 
the  public  laws,  and  lead  a  virtuous  life. 

A  fearful  doom  awaits  the  drunkard  aud  the  profane 
swearer.     They  are  classed  with  the  abomina])le,  with 


OBEDIENCE    TO    PARENTS.  168 

thieves,  murderers,  whoremongers,  and  liars.  What  end 
does  the  profane  swearer  propose  to  himself?  Does  he 
suppose  his  neighbor  will  believe  him  any  sooner,  because 
he  affirms  his  word  by  an  oath  ?  Mistaken  man !  He 
who  has  so  little  reverence  for  God,  as  to  take  his  name 
in  vain,  will  not  think  it  dighonoraljle  to  lie,  if  he  think 
it  will  answer  his  selfish  purposes.  Does  he  think  it 
becoming  a  gentleman  to  trifle  thus  with  the  tremendous 
name  of  God  ?  Alas !  how  degraded  must  be  the  state 
of  society  if  profane  swearing  will  add  to  the  dignity  of 
a  man's  character !  Thank  God,  it  is  believed  that  the 
generality  of  men  have  more  exalted  ideas  of  the  proper 
dignity  of  man,  than  to  suppose  that  such  conduct  will 
elevate  him  in  the  estimation  of  his  fellow-citizens. 
"  Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  the  Lord  thy  God  in 
vain  :  for  the  Lord  will  not  hold  him  guiltless  that  taketh 
his  name  in  vain."  Exod.  xx.  7.  "And  the  Lord  spake 
unto  Moses,  saying,  Bring  forth  him  that  cursed  without 
the  camp;  and  let  all  that  heard  him  lay  their  hands 
upon  his  head,  and  let  all  the  congregation  stone  him." 
Levit.  xxiv.  13,  14.  "Because  of  swearing  the  land 
mourneth."  Jer.  xxiii.  10;  Hosea  iv.  23.  "As  I  live,  saith 
the  Lord  God,  I  have  no  pleasure  in  the  death  of  the 
wicked,  but  that  the  wicked  turn  from  his  way  and  live : 
turn  ye,  turn  from  your  evil  ways;  for  why  will  ye  die?" 
Ezek.  xxxiii.  11;  Isaiah  i.  18;  Prov.  i.  24-28;  Luke  xv.  10. 
The  thoughts  of  such  goodness  abused,  and  such  amazing 
clemency  affronted,  seem  to  the  awakened  sinner  almost  as 
insupportable  as  those  of  God's  wrath  and  severity ;  and 


161  OBEDIENCE    TO    TAREXTS. 

he  exclaims,  in  the  anguish  of  his  soul,  ''Oh,  whither  shall 
I  turn  ?  I  dare  not  look  upward:  the  sun  and  stars  upbraid 
me  there.  If  I  look  downward,  the  fields  and  fountains  take 
their  Creator's  pait,  and  heaven  and  earth  conspire  to  ag- 
gravate my  sins.  Those  common  blessings  tell  me  how 
much  I  am  indebted  to  thy  bounty.  Oh,  in  what  delirium 
has  my  life  been  passed  !  what  have  T  been  doing ! 

"When  I  look  back  on  my  former  days, 
The  only  comfort  the  review  aft'ords 
Is,  that  they're  past. 

For  through  their  course  I  cannot  recollect 
One  free  from  sorrow,  guilt,  or  disappointment  : 
Yet  heedless  still  through  the  same  paths  I  stray, 
And  rashly  venture  on  the  dangerous  road ; 
With  open  eyes,  like  one  asleep  I  walk, 
And  drink  the  cup,  although  I  know  'tis  poison'd. 
Why  am  I  led  thus  captive  by  my  will, 
While  Reason,  faithful  guide,  forever  warns 
My  drowsy  soul  to  shun  impending  danger? 
This  night  may  be  my  last;  I  ne'er  again 
May  see  the  dawning  of  another  morn  : 
Shall  I  forego  the  joys  of  heaven,  to  soothe 
A  wayward  fancy  or  destructive  passion? 
Ah,  no!" 

"  And  when  he  came  to  himself,  he  said,  How  many  hired 
servants  of  my  father's  have  bread  enough  and  to  spare, 
and  I  perish  with  hunger!  I  will  arise  and  go  to  my 
father,  and  will  say  unto  him.  Father,  I  have  sinned  against 
heaven  and  before  thee,  and  am  no  more  worthy  to  be 
called  thy  son :  make  me  as  one  of  thy  hired  servants." 
(See  Luke  xv.  17-24.) 


CHAPTEil     VIII. 

O  15  j:  U  1  E  N  C  E     TO     1'  A  R  E  N  T  S ,    C  0  N  T  I  i\  U  E  P  . 

Susceptibility  of  the  young  mind  to  evil  impressions — The  Christian 
family — A  dying  mother's  last  words  to  her  son — The  remembrance  of 
her  great  love  for  him  brings  tears  in  his  eyes — The  boy  who  is  "  too 
big"  to  obey  his  mother— What  Christ,  the  King  of  kings  and  Lord  of 
lords  did — The  Bible  knows  no  to-morrow — "Thinking  about  it" — A 
limit  to  provocation. 

The  second  generation  of  "  badly  brought  up  children" 
will  be  invariably  worse  than  the  first,  for  parents  who 
were  not,  themselves,  obedient  and  properly  trained  in 
childhood,  however  much  they  may  wish  to  perform 
their  duty  toward  .their  own  children,  will  be  impotent 
to  secure  obedience,  for  there  is  no  law  more  immutable 
than  this,  that  persons  can  not  govern  who  have  not, 
themselves,  been  governed.  It  is  no  exaggeration  to 
say,  that  the  developments  of  right  moral  and  -eligious 
character  is  wholly  the  work  of  education  and  religious 
nurture:  meaning,  by  these  terms,  not  the  training  of 
the  parent  and  teacher  only,  but  also  the  agency  of  cir- 
cumstances,— whilst  the  force  of  example  and  association 
alone,  independent  of  all  direct  inculcation,  is  sufficient 
to  impress  upon  the  child's  plastic  nature,  any  form  of 
vice  and  ungodliness.     Let  him  grow  up  among  idolaters, 

and  that   circumstance  ensures  his  Ijeing  a  devotee  to 

(1G5) 


166  OBEUIEXCE    TO    PARENTS. 

false  gods,  and  the  deadly  foe  of  all  true  piety  and  virtue. 
Life  among  the  Fejees  would  infallibly  convert  the  child 
of  Christian  parents  into  a  cannibal.  Give  your  babe  to  be 
nursed  and  trained  in  an  infidel  family,  and  he  will,  with- 
out somo,  strong  remedial  or  preventing  influence  from 
better  sources,  grow  up  to  be  an  enemy  and  a  contemner 
of  Christ.  Nurtured  in  a  den  of  thieves,  or  smugglers, 
or  robbers,  he  will  feel  neither  horror  nor  disapprobation 
of  the  atrocious  crimes  with  which  he  is  constantly 
familiar;  and  to  become  the  most  daring  and  expert  of 
the  gang  will,  in  all  probability,  be  the  highest  aspiration 
ever  felt  by  his  blighted  spirit.  Without  going  beyond 
the  limits  of  our  own  neighborhood,  or  perhaps  twenty 
yards  from  the  door  of  the  church  where  we  pay  our 
adoration  to  God,  we  may  find  scores  of  vile,  hardened 
boys  and  girls,  with  whom  we  could  not  allow  our  child 
to  play  in  the  streets,  without  feeling  a  certainty  that  he 
would  become,  like  them,  a  reckless  vagrant. 

Such  is  the  susceptibility  of  the  young  mind  to  evil 
impressions :  and  it  inculcates  a  Christian  lesson  upon 
all  parents  who  have  hearts,  to  care  for  the  immortal 
destinies  of  their  children,  more  influential  than  ten  thou- 
sand arguments. 

A  family  where  all  the  members  of  it  live  in  love  and 
peace,  is  like  a  little  heaven  below.  Love  and  kindness 
are  the  tempers  which  Jesus  delights  to  see  us  cultivate  ; 
and  these  are  the  tempers,  too,  which  the  Holy  Spirit 
produces  in  all  who  truly  love  God  and  keep  his  com- 
mandments     "  Heaven,  I  know,"  said  a  dying  Christian 


OBEDIENCE    TO    PARENTS.  167 

mother  to  her  only  son,  "  will  Ijless  so  good  a  son  as  you 
have  been  to  me.  You  will  have  that  consolation,  my 
son,  which  visits  but  few — you  will  be  able  to  look  back 
upon  your  past  conduct  to  me,  not  without  pain  only, 
but  with  a  holy  joy.  *  *  *  Do  not  be  so  afflicted,  my 
son,  at  the  loss  of  me.  We  are  not  to  part  for  ever." 
Poor  boy!  In  after  years,  speaking  of  his  infant  recol- 
lections, he  says : 

"  The  mere  thougbt, 
Of  her  great  love  for  me  has  often  brought 
Tears  in  my  eyes.     Though  far  away, 
It  seems  as  it  were  yesterday. 
And  just  as  when  I  looked  on  high 
Through  the  blue  silence  of  the  sky, 
Fresh  stars  shine  out,  and  more  and  more 
Where  I  could  see  so  few  before ; 
So  the  more  steadily  I  gaze 
Upon  those  far-off  misty  days, 
Fresh  words,  fresh  t/ftes,  fresh  mem'ries  start. 
Before  my  eyes  and  in  my  heart." 

Ah,  yes,  the  remembrance  of  the  scenes  of  his  youth 
now  appear  to  him  like  far  visions  of  happiness.  His 
dear,  dear  mother  died  whilst  he  was  yet  young.  He 
now  looks  upon  the  time,  as  upon  a  vision  of  devotion 
commingled  with  love,  when  he  saw  her  oft  upon  her 
knees,  in  secret  prayer.  He  heard  her  pray,  not  for  her- 
self alone,  but  for  him,  and  sent  up  his  name  in  earnest 
supplication  to  her  heavenly  Father.  She  asked — with 
tears  streaming  down  her  cheeks — the  God  of  salvation 
to  bless  liim,  her  then  hope  and  delight,  whilst  he  won- 
dered to  whom  his  mother  was  addressing  herself,  for  he 


168  OBEDIENCE    TO    PARENTS. 

saw  no  one  in  the  room  besides  himself,  and  she  was  not 
speaking  to  him,  but  about  him.  He  now  remembers  the 
impressive  sight  he  witnessed,  as  he  entered  her  death- 
chamber,  —  her  pale  and  haggard  countenance ;  her 
sickly,  failing  eye,  with  which  she  looked  out  upon  him 
from  her  dying  pillow,  as  if  from  the  very  confines  of 
the  eternal  world.  He  remembers  how  thin  and  how 
pale  the  hand  was  w4th  which  she  pressed  his,  w4ien  she 
bade  him  a  sorrowful  adieu  ;  and  how  agonizingly  anxious 
that  look  was  with  which  she  gazed  into  his  face,  and 
charged  him,  in  the  name  of  her  blessed  Lord  and 
Saviour,  to  wrestle  with  God  day  and  night  for  the  sal- 
vation of  his  soul,  and  to  seek  through  the  blood  of  Jesus 
for  the  pardon  of  his  sins.  He  remembers  that  he  saw 
his  dear  mother  die,  and  go  the  way  of  all  the  earth,  and 
that  he  attended,  with  others,  her  funeral.  He  saw  the 
newly  opened  grave,  and  the  coSin,  the  lid  of  which  hid 
from  his  view  the  changed  countenance  of  his  best 
earthly  friend,  and  he  weeps  tears  of  bitter  anguish. 
He  remembers  also  seeing  the  grave  filled  up,  and  the 
tears  of  sympathizing  friends,  who,  with  him,  encircled 
the  grave,  and  then  left  his  dear,  dear  mother  there  in 
the  narrow  bed  of  death.  Poor  boy !  poor  boy !  how 
we  feel  for  you  in  your  sore  bereavement. 

The  boy  who  is  "  too  big"  to  obey  his  mother  is  in  a 
most  dangerous  state  of  mind.  Think  of  Christ,  the 
"  King  of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords."  When  he  sat  with 
the  learned  doctors  in  the  temple  at  Jerusalem,  he  was 
not  too  old  and  too  wise  to  obey  his  mother.     Badly 


OBEDIENCE    TO    PARENTS.  169 

brought  up  children  may  be  known  by  their  rude  un- 
mannerly behaviour  to  each  other,  to  their  neighbors, 
and  to  strangers.  On  the  other  hand,  Christian  children 
are  not  only  civil  and  mannerly  to  all,  but  love  God,  and 
their  parents.  All  such  children  know  that  "  the  fear 
oC  the  Lord  is  the  beginning  of  wisdom ;"  and  that 
wisdom  is  more  precious  than  "jewels  of  fine  gold," 
(Job  xxviii.  IT,  28;  Prov.  iii.  13-24;  Jer.  ix.  23,  24; 
Colos.  ii.  3;  Eph.  iii.  18,  19;)  because  it  confers  happi- 
ness that  all  the  jewels  and  gold  in  the  world  could  not 
confer:  a  happiness  "which  passeth  knowledge," — a 
happiness  "unspeakable  and  full  of  glory." 

The  mouth  of  the  wicked  "  is  full  of  cursing  and 
deceit  and  fraud ;  under  his  tongue  is  mischief  and 
vanity.  He  hath  said  in  his  heart,  God  hath  forgotten : 
he  hideth  his  face;  he  will  never  see  it."  Psalm  x.  4,  T, 
11;  Eccles.  xii.  14.  Ah,  there  is  no  escape  from  His 
all-seeing  eye.  Psalm  cxxxix.  4-12;  Luke  xii.  2,  3. 
"  Understand,  ye  brutish  among  the  people  ;  and  ye  fools, 
when  will  ye  be  wise  ?  He  that  planteth  the  car,  shall 
he  not  hear?  He  that  formed  the  eye,  shall  he  not 
see?"  Psalm  xciv.  89;  1  Sam.  ix.  15-27;  x.  2-16;  1 
Chron.  xxviii.  9  ;  2  Kings  vi.  12  ;  Eccles.  v.  6  ;  x.  20. 
"  0  Lord,  thou  hast  searched  me,  and  known  me.  Thou 
knowest  my  downsitting  and  mine  uprising;  thou  under- 
standest  my  thought  afar  off.  Thou  compasseth  my 
path  and  my  lying  down,  and  art  acquainted  with  all  my 
ways.  For  there  is  not  a  word  in  my  tongue,  but,  lo,  O 
Lord,  thou  knowest  it  altogether."  Psalm  cxxxix.  1-4  ; 
15 


170  OBEDIENCE    TO    PARENTS. 

Job  xlii.   1  ;  2  Chron.  xvi.  9 ;  John  i.  48,  49 ;  Hebrews 
iv   13. 

Father  of  Spirits,  nature's  God, 

Our  thoughts  are  known  to  thee ; 
Thou,   Lord,  canst  hear  each  idle  word. 
And  every  action  see. 

Could  we  on  morning's  swiftest  wings. 

Fly  through  the  trackless  air, 
Or  dive  beneath  deep  ocean's  springs. 

Thy  presence  would  he  there. 

In  vain  may  guilt  attempt  to  fly, 

Conceal'd  by  darkest  night; 
One  glance  from  thy  all-piercing  eye 

Can  bring  it  all  to  light. 

In  the  concerns  of  the  soul  the  Bible  knows  of  no  to- 
morrow. God's  calls  are  meant  at  once  to  be  answered. 
Men  are  ready  every  moment  of  their  lives  for  heaven 
or  hell,  and  should  death  overtake  them  while  they  are 
parleying,  a  fearful  doom  awaits  them.  There  is  no 
guarantee  in  the  Scriptures,  that  the  invitation  will  ever 
be  repeated,  and  eternal  ruin  will  be  the  just  punishment 
of  a  single  rejection.  You  put  off  this  most  solemn  duty, 
and  then  protest  against  and  flatter  yourself  that  the 
excuse  is  sufficient.  But  this  will  not  answer.  You  are 
bound  to  resolve  this  question  as  soon  as  it  is  presented 
for  your  consideration.  Everything  else  should  be  post- 
poned until  it  is  settled.  But  perhaps  you  reply  that 
you  "  have  thought  it  over,  but  cannot  come  to  any  con- 
clusion." You  are  deceived;  you  are  tampering  with 
the  salvation  of  your  soul.  It  is  not  because  you  can- 
not, but  because  you  will  not.      "  Thinking    about    it," 


OBEDIENCE    TO    PARENTS.  171 

without  acting,  is  easy,  for  it  involves  the  performance 
of  no  duty.  Reason  and  conscience  both  tell  you  what 
you  ought  to  do — but  that  is  unpalatable,  and  you  fail 
in  coming  to  a  conclusion,  because  you  have  no  real 
inclination  to  attain  any,  and  hence  upon  a  false  basis 
over  your  inability  to  reach  any  fixed  and  definite  pur- 
pose !  Rest  assured  that  all  the  "  thinking"  in  the 
world  will  accomplish  nothing.  Nothing  but  the  stern 
resolve  to  give  up  all  and  follow  Christ,  can  avail  you. 
Indecision  only  begets  indecision.  The  more  you  "think 
it  over,"  the  more  irresolute  you  are.  Serious  impres- 
sions become  fainter  and  fainter  as  you  thus  trifle,  and 
you  are  at  last  so  familiarized  with  them,  that  they  lose 
their  force,  and  are  the  more  easily  dismissed  as  unwel- 
come visitors  that  disturb  your  "peace."  Isaiah  Ivii.  21  ; 
Prov.  i.  24-28. 

There  is  a  limit  to  provocation,  beyond  which  the 
mercy  of  God  does  not  extend.  That  limit,  once  reached, 
the  Lord  declares  the  sinner's  doom,  in  these  words, 
"  Because  I  have  called,  and  ye  refused;  I  have  stretched 
out  My  hand,  and  no  man  regarded  ;  but  ye  have  set  at 
naught  all  My  counsel,  and  would  none  of  My  reproof: 
I  also  will  laugh  at  your  calamity ;  I  will  mock  when 
your  fear  cometh  as  desolation,  and  your  destruction 
Cometh  as  a  whirlwind ;  when  distress  and  anguish 
cometh  upon  you.  Then  shall  they  call  upon  Me,  but  I 
will  not  answer  ;  they  shall  seek  Me  early,  but  they  shall 
not  find  me  :  for  they  that  hated  knowledge,  and  did  not 
choose  the  fear  of  the  Lord  :  they  would  none  of  My 


172  OBEDIENCE    TO    PAKENTS. 

counsel:  they  despised  all  My  reproof.  Therefore  shall 
they  eat  of  the  fruit  of  their  own  way,  and  be  filled  with 
their  own  devices." 

We  see,  then,  that  there  is  a  Yoice  pleading  against  sin 
in  every  soul,  till  it  is  silenced  by  persistent  disregard 
and  determined  transgression.  Beside  the  innate  corrup- 
tion of  a  wicked  heart,  there  is  a  malignant  power,  a 
seducing  and  deluding  Devil.  The  existence  of  the  devil 
is  as  distinctly  affirmed  in  the  Scriptures  as  the  existence 
of  God,  and  his  influences  in  life  are  as  evident.  His 
name,  his  nature,  his  personality,  his  power,  are  as  posi- 
tively revealed  as  the  name  and  personality  and  power 
of  the  Almighty.  With  an  eye  that  never  sleeps,  with 
a  foot  that  never  wearies,  with  a  breath  that  never  fails, 
hungering  for  the  souls  of  men,  he  hunts  them  steadily — 
a  true  slow-hound  that  never  bays,  but  runs  silently  on 
the  trail  with  superhuman  sagacity.  But  the  devil  is  not 
the  only  foe.  This  great  hunter  of  souls  has  innume- 
rable packs  of  human  hounds.  Bad  men  and  bad  women, 
"  evil  men  and  seducers,"  as  St.  Paul  calls  them.  They 
swarm  everywhere  in  all  the  nations  of  the  world ;  and, 
having  given  up  their  own  souls  to  the  Devil,  they  de- 
light to  help  him  to  secure  others.  So  completely  are 
such  people  blinded  by  their  infernal  master,  that  they 
mistake  his  operations  for  the  spontaneous  movements 
of  their  own  will!  They  walk  according  to  "the  Prince 
of  the  power  of  the  air,"  and  they  are  not  conscious  of 
the  fact,  —  their  work  is  so  entirely  according  to  the  de- 
sire of  their  own  hearts.  Eph.  ii.  2,  3 ;  John  viii.  42-44. 


OBEDIENCE    TO    PARENTS.  173 

The  people  of  the  antediluvian  world,  and  of  Sodom  and 
Gomorrah,  worshipped  at  Satan's  shrine,  until  the  out- 
raged patience  of  heaven  would  no  longer  bear  their  pro- 
vocations. Gen.  vii.  21-23  ;  xix.  24-28  ;  Ezek.  xvi.  49,  50 ; 
2  Peter  ii.  4-10. 

The  place  where  the  wicked  shall  be  punished,  is  re- 
presented in  the  Scriptures  under  a  variety  of  figures, 
expressive  of  its  awfulness.  It  is  called  "  the  bottomless 
pit,"  Rev.  iii.  20;  "  a  furnace  of  fire,"  Matt.  xiii.  42,  50; 
"  a  lake  of  fire  and  brimstone,"  Rev.  xxi.  8 ;  "  hell," 
Matt,  xxiii.  33  ;  Mark  ix.  41,  48  ;  "  outer  darkness,"  Matt, 
viii.  12  ;  Psalm  xlix.  19  ;  Jer.  xiii.  14-16  ;  "  eternal  fire," 
Jude  vii.  The  misery  of  the  wicked  in  this  place,  is 
described  in  the  strongest  terms,  and  by  the  most  dread- 
ful figures.  The  nature  of  helPs  torments  is  represented 
not  only  by  the  worm  that  never  dieth,  but  also  by  the 
fire  that  "shall  never  be  quenched."  In  another  place, 
it  is  declared,  not  only  that  the  punishment  shall  be  for- 
ever, but  "forever  and  ever."  Rev.  xiv.  11;  xx.  10.  The 
expression  "forever  and  ever,"  must  certainly  mean  an 
infinite  duration  of  time  ;  for  the  Bible  contains  no  higher 
expression  to  signify  the  eternity  of  God  himself,  than 
that  of  his  being  "forever  and  ever."  Rev.  iv.  9. 

Oh,  the  anguish  of  the  wicked  when  the  Lord  Jesus 

shall  pronounce  the  fearful  sentence,  "  Depart  from  Me, 

ye  cursed,  into  everlasting  fire  prepared  for  the  devil  and 

his   angels!"     Oh,   what  wailing!    what  fearful   cries! 

Lost !    lost !    forever  and  ever !     No  more   Bibles !    no 

more    Tracts !    no    more    Sabbaths !    no    more    Sunday- 
15* 


174  OBEI)TEN"CE    TO    PAKENTS. 

schoolvS  !  no  more  invitations  to  come  to  Christ !  no  more 
strivings  of  the  Spirit  of  God  !  no  more  hopes  of  heaven! 
Then  shall  be  brought  to  pass  the  saying  that  is  written, 
"  The  harvest  is  past,  the  summer  is  ended,  and  we  are 
not  saved.-'  Jer.  viii.  20;  Prov.  i.  24-28;  2  Thess.  i.  1- 
9.  In  that  day,  the  righteous  Judge  of  all  the  earth 
"  shall  be  revealed  from  heaven  with  his  mighty  angels, 
in  flaming  fire  taking  vengeance  on  them  that  know  not 
God,  and  that  obey  not  the  Gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ:  who  shall  be  punished  with  everlasting  destruc- 
tion from  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  and  from  the  glory; 
of  his  power." 

Oh,  what  agonies  shall  it  not  cause  when  parents 
meet  the  children  on  whose  souls  they  had  no  pity,  the 
children  whom  they  never  brought  to  the  Saviour,  the 
children  unpraycd  for,  untaught  to  pray  for  themselves  ! 
Who  shall  describe  the  meeting  of  such  parents  and 
their  children  in  an  eternal  hell,  with  "  the  devil  and  his 
angels,"  and  all  the  damned  since  the  death  of  Cain — 
the  first  murderer,  to  that  day?  Oh,  how  they  will  wish 
they  had  never  been  born !  How  they  will  wish  to  teai 
out  their  memories !  They  will  seek  death,  but  it  will  flee 
from  them.  Oh,  how  it  will  pierce  their  souls  to  have 
their  children  challenge  them  in  that  day,  and  say,  to 
them,  one  by  one : 

"  Had  you  been  as  careful  to  teach  me  the  knowledge 
of  the  Lord  as  I  was  capable  of  learning :  had  you  been 
as  forward  to  instruct  me  in  my  duties  as  I  was  ready  to 
have  hearkened,  it  had  not  been  with  me  as  it  is  this  day. 


OBEDIENCE    TO    PARENTS.  175 

If  you  had  by  your  own  good  example,  and  the  use  of 
the  rod,  restrained  me  in  my  wickedness,  instead  of 
encouraging  me  therein,  by  your  filthy  conversation, 
profanity,  and  unlawful  deeds,  I  had  not  now  stood 
trembling  here  in  fearful  expectation  of  the  eternal  doom 
which  is  just  ready  to  be  passed  upon  me.  It  is  to  you 
that  I  must  in  a  great  measure  owe  my  everlasting  ruin. 
Unnatural  wretch  !  that  has  thus  destroyed  those  whose 
happiness  by  so  many  bonds  of  duty  and  affection  you 
were  commanded  by  the  Word  of  God  to  promote.  Be- 
hold !  the  books  are  now  open,  and  there  is  not  one 
prayer — one  heartfelt  prayer — upon  record  that  you  ever 
put  up  for  me !  There  is  no  memorial;  no,  not  so  much 
as  one  hour  that  ever  was  seriously  spent  to  train  me  up 
to  a  sense  of  God,  and  to  a  knowledge  of  my  duty  to 
God  ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  it  appears  that  you  have  in 
many  ways  contrived  my  misery,  and  contributed  io  my 
ruin,  and  helped  forward  my  damnation. 

"  Good  men  often  spoke  to  you  about  my  vile  behavior 
and  profanity,  and  with  tears  in  their  eyes  implored  you 
to  restrain  me  in  my  wicked  practices,  but  in  vain  I  You 
abused  and  slandered  them,  because  they  told  you  the 
truth,  and  the  ruin  you  were  bringing  upon  your  child- 
ren, by  your  unchristian  conduct.  You  lied,  jested  and 
ridiculed  sacred  things,  and  so  did  I.  You  took  the 
name  of  God  in  vain,  and  so  did  I.  You  profaned  the 
Sabbath,  and  annoyed  your  Christian  neighbors  with 
swearing  and  cursing,  and  so  did  I.  You  spent  your 
evenings  in  prowling  al)out  the  streets,  and  making  a 


176  OBEDIENCE    TO    PARENTS. 

noise  like  a  dog,  and  so  did  I.  You  rejected  the  Bible, 
and  spent  your  time  and  money  in  the  perusal  of  infidel 
books  and  pamphlets,  and  other  lying  and  filthy  publica- 
tions, and  so  did  I.  You  vilified  Christ  and  his  minis- 
ters and  people,  and  so  did  I.  You  patronized  the 
theatre,  the  rum-shop,  the  dance-house,  and  other  places 
of  debauchery,  and  so  did  I.  Oh,  how  could  you  be  so 
cruel, — how  could  you  thus  hate  your  own  flesh,  and 
hate  your  own  soul  ?  Oh,  how  much  better  had  it  been 
for  me,  and  how  much. better  for  you,  that  we  had  never 
been  born!  I  was  ignorant,  and  you  instructed  me  not; 
I  made  myself  vile,  and  you  restrained  me  not !  Why 
did  you  not  teach  me  at  home,  and  bring  me  to  the  pub- 
lic ordinances  and  worship  of  God,  and  train  me  up  to 
the  exercise  of  true  piety  and  devotion  ?  But  you  not 
only  neglected  and  refused  to  give  me  good  instruction, 
but  y-ou  gave  me  bad  example :  and  lo  !  I  have  followed 
you  to  hell,  to  be  an  addition  to  your  torments  for  ever 
and  ever. 

"My  day's  forever  gone,  my  sun  is  set 
In  final  darkness,  ne'er  to  rise  again ^ 
My  summer's  spent,  eternal  winter's  come; 
The  season's  past. 

On  me  no  ray  of  mercy  e'er  will  shine, 
No  smiling  hope  will  ever  rise  ; 
Justice  divine,  and  self-condemning  guilt, 
Consign  me  to  eternal  wo." 


CHAPTER    IX. 

FAMILY      BEREAVEMENTS. 

The  grave — The  Chri.^tian  fnmily  never  grows  less — Anxiety  of  the 
blest  for  the  safety  of  their  relations  and  friends — The  Indian  mother — 
The  withered  blossoms  will  bloom  again — The  cloud  of  witnesses — The 
loved  ones  of  my  childhood's  days — The  true  Soldier  of  the  Cross  no 
believer  in  second  causes — E.xtravagant  desires — Conflicts  and  trials — 
Impatience  and  murmuring — The  changed  Cross — The  bodies  of  the 
saints — Abel  and  his  harp — Sings  the  song  of  redeeming  love — The  faith 
of  the  saints  of  old — The  music  of  Heaven — Unspeakable  happiness  of 
the  redeemed — "I  long  to  be  there" — The  Angels:  their  j^ower  and 
glory — The  "house"  of  "many  mansions"  in  full  view — Home  at  last — 
The  meeting  of  death-divided  friends — The  Saviour's  amazing  love. 

The  grave  becomes  another  and  a  holier  thing  to  the 
Christian  family,  after  it  has  received  its  first  inmate. 
There  is  a  kind  relationship  instituted,  which  tends  to 
remove  the  repulsion  and  estrangement  which  existed 
before.  Heaven  has  a  new  attraction  to  the  Christian 
wife,  when  it  has  become  the  home  of  her  husband  or 
child.  Eternity  seems  a  warmer  and  more  cheerful  ob- 
ject of  thought,  when  it  has  been  made  a  part  of  home 
by  the  removal  of  part  of  the  family  to  it.  The  thought 
of  regaining  the  companionship  of  those  whom  we  loved 
on  earth,  attaches  time  to  eternity,  and  this  life  becomes 
what  it  really  is,  a  beginning,  and  part  of  another.  Dear 
friends  are  removed  from  sight,  but  they  still  live  and 
love. 

(177) 


178  FAMILY    BEEEAVEMENTS. 

Ill  the  view  of  faith  a  Christian  family  never  grows 
less ;  nor  is  its  golden  chain,  though  part  of  it  lie  under 
the  shadow,  ever  broken.  The  departure  of  those  whom 
we  loved  on  earth,  does  for  us  what  the  departure  of  the 
strangers  from  heaven  did  to  the  disciples  on  the  mount 
of  transfiguration, — it  leaves  us  alone  with  "Jesus  only." 
It  turns  into  deep  experience  that  longing  for  home  con- 
tained in  the  Apostle's  words,  "  having  a  desire  to  depart 
and  be  with  Christ,  which  is  far  better."  Why  then 
should  Christian  jiarents  repine  that  Jesus  takes  their 
"  little  ones"  from  their  unsafe  guardianship,  and  folds 
them  in  the  "  everlasting  Arms"  forever  ?  But  it  is  hard 
to  get  any  father  or  mother  to  subscribe  to  this  Bible 
doctrine  ;  they  will  not  believe  that  a  little  one  of  theirs 
has  aught  but  a  bright  life  before  him.  Children  are 
often  the  hands  by  which  the  parents  take  hold  of 
heaven.  By  these  tendrils  they  grasp  it  and  climb 
thitherward.  And  why  do  they  think  they  are  separated 
from  them  ?  Ah,  they  never  half  knew  them.  "  If  the 
rich  man,"  says  an  able  Christian  writer,  "  in  the  regions 
of  the  lost,  asked  that  a  messenger  might  be  sent  to  his 
•five  brethren,'  to  warn  them  not  to  come  to  that  place, 
may  we  not  with  greater  reason,  believe  that  the  blest 
in  Christ  are  equally  anxious  for  the  safe  arrival  there  of 
those  that  they  have  left  behind  ?  Yes,  they  plead  in  the 
silent  eloquence  of  their  love  and  loveliness." 

Mr.  Kirk,  in  his  "  Mother  of  the  Wesleys,"  says,  "Mrs. 
Wesley's  affection  for  her  father  was  intense  and  constant. 
She  cherished  liis  memory  and  meditated  upon  his  saintly 


FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS  179 

character  to  hej-  latest  hour.  Sometimes  she  felt  a  peculiar 
nearness  to  him,  as  though  she  held  converse  with  his  as- 
cended spirit.  Her  son  John  heard  her  say  that  she  was 
frequently  as  fully  persuaded  that  her  father  was  with  her 
as  if  she  had  seen  him  with  her  bodily  eyes.  She  left  her 
statement  without  any  explanation;  but  her  real  views  may 
be  elicited  from  her  writings.  "When  speaking  of  the  mys- 
terious noises  at  Epworth  parsonage,  she  observes,  "I  am 
rather  inclined  to  think  there  would  be  frequent  intercourse 
between  good  spirits  and  us,  did  not  our  deep  lapse  into  sen- 
suality prevent  it."  (See  Rom.  viii.  7-13;  1  Cor.  ix.  24- 
27;  1  Pet.  ii.  11;  and  1  John  ii.  15,  IG.)  The  following 
remarkable  passage  in  her  beautiful  and  masterly  exposition 
of  the  Apostles'  Creed  still  more  full}-  explains  her  mean- 
ing:— '•  What  knowledge  the  saints  in  heaven  have  of  things 
or  persons  in  this  world  we  cannot  determine;  nor  after 
what  manner  we  hold  communion  with  them,  it  is  not,  at 
present,  easy  to  conceive.  That  we  are  all  members  of  the 
same  mystical  body,  Christ,  we  are  very  sure;  and  do  all 
partake  of  the  same  vital  influence  from  the  same  Head, 
and  so  we  are  united  together.  And,  though  we  are  not 
actually  possessed  of  the  same  happiness  which  they  enjoy, 
yet  we  have  the  same  Holy  Spirit  given  unto  us  as  an 
earnest  of  our  eternal  felicity  with  them  hereafter.  And 
though  their  faith  is  consummated  by  vision,  and  their  hope 
by  present  possession,  yet  the  bond  of  Christian  charity  still 
remains.  And  as  we  have  great  joy  and  complacency  in 
their  society,  so,  no  doubt,  they  desire  and  pray  for  us." 
Though  not  prepared  to  explain  the  manner  in  which 


180  FAiMILY    BEREAVEMENTS. 

the  intercourse  is  carried  on,  Mrs,  Wesley  clearly  held  the 
doctrine  of  spiritual  communion  with  departed  saints 
This  theory,  so  enchanting  and  soothing  to  those  whose 
friends  have  departed  hence  in  the  Lord,  has  been  received 
by  many  devout  and  able  divines.  There  are  also  unmis- 
takable indications  that  it  was  regarded  with  favor  by  Mrs. 
AYesley's  gifted  sons.  After  Charles  has  sung  his  noble 
hymns  of  triumph  over  tl^e  exodus  of  some  of  his  saintly 
friends,  he  is  not  slow  to  tell  us  that,  in  his  public  and  pri- 
vate meditations,  he  felt  communion  with  them. 

It  was  John  Wesley's  constant  custom  to  preach  on  All 
Saints'  Day — one  of  his  favorite  Church  festivals — on 
communion  with  the  heavenly  multitude.  He  declares  also 
that  he  many  times  realized  such  a  sudden  and  lively  appre- 
hension of  deceased  friends  that  he  turned  round  to  look 
if  they  were  not  actually  and  visibly  present  at  his  side, 
and  "an  uncommon  affection  for  them"  sprung  up  in  his 
heart.  In  his  dreams  of  the  night  he  sometimes  held 
"conversations  with  them,"  and  doubted  not  that  "they 
were  very  near."  There  is  a  striking  illustration  of  one  of 
the  "conversations"  in  the  following  passage  from  the  Life 
of  Mrs.  Fletcher: — "Last  night  I  had  a  powerful  sense,  in 
my  sleep,  of  the  presence  of  my  dear  husband.  I  felt  such 
sweet  communion  with  his  spirit  as  gave  me  much  peaceful 
feeling.  I  had  for  some  days  thought  that  I  was  called  to 
resist  more  than  I  did  that  strong  and  lively  remembrance 
of  the  various  scenes,  both  of  his  last  sickness  and  many 
other  circumstances  which  frequently  occurred,  with  much 
pain.     This  thought  being  present  to  my  mind,  I  looked  on 


FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS.  181 

him.  He  said,  with  a  sweet  smile,  '  It  is  better  to  forget.' 
'What,'  said  I,  'my  dear  love,  to  forget  one  another?'  He 
replied,  with  inexpressible  sweetness, '  It  is  better  to  forget. 
It  will  not  be  long.  We  shall  not  be  parted  long.  We 
shall  soon  meet  again.'  He  then  signified,  though  not  in 
words,  that  all  weights  should  be  laid  aside." 

The  Apostle  Paul  tells  us  that  "The  natural  man  re- 
ceiveth  not  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God;  for  they  are 
foolishness  unto  him :  neither  can  he  know  them,  because 
they  are  spiritually  discerned.  But  he  that  is  spiritual 
judgeth  all  things,  yet  he  himself  is  judged  of  no  man." 
(1  Cor.  ii.  14,  15.)  In  another  place,  alluding  to  the  glo- 
ries of  heaven,  he  says,  "It  is  not  expedient  for  me  doubt- 
less to  glory.  I  will  come  to  visions  and  revelations  of  the 
Lord.  I  knew  a  man  in  Christ  above  fourteen  years  ago, 
whether  in  the  body  I  cannot  tell,  or  whether  out  of  the 
body  I  cannot  tell;  God  knoweth:  such  a  one  caught  up 
to  the  third  heaven.  And  I  knew  such  a  man,  whether  in 
the  body,  or  out  of  the  body,  I  cannot  tell;  God  knoweth: 
how  that  he  was  caught  up  into  paradise,  and  heard  unspeak- 
able words,  which  it  is  not  lawful  for  a  man  to  utter.  Of 
such  a  one  will  I  glory;  yet  of  myself  I  will  not  glory,  but 
in  mine  infirmities.  For  though  I  would  desire  to  glory,  I 
shall  not  be  a  fool ;  for  I  will  say  the  truth :  but  now  I  for- 
bear, lest  any  man  should  think  of  me  above  that  which  he 
seeth  me  to  be,  or  that  he  heareth  of  me." 

A  certain  dear  soldier  of  the  cross,  speaking  of  his  con- 
flicts with  Satan  and  his  emissaries,  says,  "  I  was  once  so 
severely  tempted  and  tried,  that  I  determined  to  give  up 


182  FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS. 

the  struggle  and  go  back  to  tlie  world.  After  the  first 
emotions  of  my  grief  were  over,  I  fell  asleep,  and  thought  I 
heard  a  voice,  saying,  '  Be  thou  faithful  unto  death,  and  I 
will  give  thee  a  crown  of  life.'  These  words  seemed  to 
encourage  and  strengthen  me.  I  then  fancied  I  heard 
sweet  melodious  sounds,  rising  by  degrees,  until  the  region 
round  was  filled  with  transporting  harmony.  In  the  height 
of  these  agreeable  agitations,  as  the  rosy  morning  breaks 
from  a  cloud,  a  most  lovely  Being  stood  before  me.  There 
was  something  in  his  aspect  so  serene  and  beneficent,  such 
a  heavenly  sweetness  and  affability  that  banished  every 
thought  of  fear  from  my  heart,  and  filled  my  breast  with 
divine  tranquillity,  and  my  soul  with  joy  unspeakable  and 
full  of  glory.  After  a  short  pause,  he  began,  with  a 
voice  that  would  have  allayed  the  anguish  of  death,  and 
charmed  the  wildest  discord  into  calm  attejition;  every 
accent  breathed  celestial  love  and  harmony,  while  he  de- 
scribed the  joys  of  his  'Father's  house.'  But  it  is  impos- 
sible to  paint  the  beautiful  ideas,  or  imitate  the  emphasis 
of  his  language.  All  the  powers  of  eloquence  sat  on  his 
tongue,  and  commanded  all  the  motions  of  my  soul,  which 
at  that  blissful  period  seemed  enlarged  in  its  superior  facul- 
ties. Every  word  was  penetrating  and  significant,  his 
manner  perfectly  graceful  and  transporting.  In  his  de- 
scriptions I  saw  the  glories,  I  felt  the  joys,  of  heaven.  In 
an  instant  the  earth  was  lost  to  my  view,  the  sun  dimi- 
nished to  a  star;  innumerable  worlds  were  passed  with  a 
speed  swifter  than  a  morning  ray;  the  pearly  gates  of  hea- 
ven now  appeared,  and  at  my  Guide's  command  rolled  back 


FAMILI     IJEUEAVE.MENTS-  183 

on  their  golden  hinges.  Oh,  what  glories  were  disclosed! 
No  language  on  earth  can  describe  them.  The  very  foun- 
dation-walls of  the  city  were  garnished  with  all  manner  of 
precious  stones!    Even  the  streets  were  })ure  gold! 

''Passing  from  one  scene  of  wonder  to  another,  ardent  to 
pay  my  homage  to  my  heavenly  Father,  I  pressed  forward 
to  the  sacred  throne.  Oh,  what  amazing  wonders!  The 
Supreme  Benignity  at  once  beamed  forth  on  me  I  Oh,  what 
joy  unspeakable  filled  my  soul !  Lost  in  ecstasy,  I  fell 
prostrate  before  my  Sovereign;  when,  with  accents  that 
breathed  immortal  joy  and  harmony,  lie  bade  me  rise  to 
perfect  purity  and  bliss !_  A  starry  crown  w^as  placed  0:1 
my  head,  and  a  golden  harp  in  my  hand.  I  then  mingled 
with  the  grand  assembly,  ten  thousand  times  ten  thousand, 
and  thousands  of  thousands — ransomed  from  all  nations, 
and  kindreds,  and  peoples,  and  tongues;  and  with  them 
joined  my  grateful  tribute  of  praise  to  Him  whose  suiFer- 
ings  and  death  had  given  me  acceptance,  victory,  and  life. 
Here,  with  sweet  melody,  the  delightful  scene  vanished. 
I  awoke  at  the  imaginary  music,  and  found  it  had  left  me 
in  a  most  heavenly  state  of  mind." 

I  would  not  live  alway;  I  ask  not  to  stay 
Where  storm  after  storm  rises  dark  o'er  the  way. 
The  few  lurid  mornings  that  dawn  on  us  here 
Are  enough  for  life's  joys,  full  enough  for  its  cheer. 

I  would  not  live  alway, — no:   welcome  the  tomb  I 
Since  Jesus  hath  lain  there,  I  dread  not  its  gloom : 
There  sweet  be  my  rest  till  he  bid  me  arise 
To  hail  him  in  triumph  descending  the  skies. 


18-i  FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS. 

Who,  who  would  live  alway,  away  from  his  God, — 
Away  from  yon  heaven,  that  blissful  abode, 
Where  rivers  of  pleasure  flow  bright  o'er  the  plains, 
And  the  noontide  of  glory  eternally  reigns  ? 

There  saints  of  all  ages  in  harmony  meet, 
Their  Saviour  and  brethren  transported  to  greet; 
While  anthems  of  rapture  unceasingly  roll 
And  the  smile  of  the  Lord  is  the  feast  of  the  soul. 

Oh,  what  happiness,  what  glories,  await  the  faithful  sol- 
dier of  Christ !  Oh,  how  various,  how  boundless,  how  trans- 
porting will  the  prospect  be!  (See  1  Cor.  ii.  9,  10;  Isaiah 
Ixiv,  4;  and  Rev.  xxi.  7.)  He  does  not  fear  death,  for  his 
blessed  Lord  and  Master  has  promised  to  go  with  him 
through  the  dark  valley.  (Psalm  xxiii.  4;  Isaiah  xliii.  2; 
Hosea  xiii.  14;  1  Cor.  xv.  55.)  He  knows  that  he  shall 
soon  be  with  the  dear  Christian  friends  who  have  "gone  on 
before,"  and  sing  songs  of  eternal  praise  unto  Him  that 
loved  him  and  washed  him  from  his  sins  in  His  own  blood." 
(Rev.  i.  5,  6;  vii.  14;  Matt.  xxvi.  26-28.) 

They  only  are  rightly  affected  by  the  sufferings  and  death 
of  Christ  who  continue  to  be  rightly  affected  by  it.  (G-al. 
vi.  9;  Heb.  x.  35-39;  Rev.  ii.  10.)  The  thought  of  his 
Saviour's  crucifixion  recurs  to  the  faithful  soldier  of  the 
cross  in  all  the  various  periods  of  his  life ;  and  more  par- 
ticularly in  every  hour  of  trial,  in  every  season  of  tempta- 
tion, of  provocation,  of  hardship,  and  of  disgrace.  (Isaiah 
1.  6;  1  Cor.  ii.  2;  Hcb.  xii.  1-4.)  Is  he  sorrowful  and 
forsaken  of  all  his  friends?  he  thinks  of  the  sorrows  of  his 
Saviour.   ,  (Isaiah  liii.  3-12;  Matt.  xxvi.  38,  39,  50.)     Is 


FAMILY   BEREAVEMENTS,  185 

he  in  pain,  contradicted,  reviled,  and  despised?  he  beholds 
his  Saviour  wear'iig  a  crown  of  thorns,  dressed  in  an  old 
purple  robe,  mocked,  insulted,  struck  in  the  face,  spit  upon, 
and  then  crucified  between  two  thieves,  having  Barabbas,  a 
murderer,  preferred  before  him !  (Matt.  xxvi.  67,  68 ;  xxvii. 
20,  35;  Psalm  xxii.  16-18.)  Does  he  meet  with  shameful 
treatment  in  return  for  all  his  kindness  and  benevolence  to 
others?  does  nobody  thank  him,  though  he  hya  out  his  whole 
life  in  trying  to  serve  them  ?  he  is  cheered  and  kept  from 
sinking  when  he  beholds  his  Saviour  dying  for  his  enemies. 

Yes,  the  Redeemer  left  his  throne, 

His  radiant  throne  on  high, — 
Surprising  mercy!   love  unknown! — 

To  suffer,  bleed,  and  die. 

He  took  the  dying  traitor's  place, 

And  suffered  in  his  stead  ; 
For  sinful  man, — oh,  wondrous  grace  ! — 

For  sinful  man  he  bled. 

Oh,  for  this  love  let  rocks  and  hills 

Their  lasting  silence  break; 
And  all  harmonious  human  tongues 

The  Saviour's  praises  speak. 

Angels  assist  our  mighty  joys ; 

Strike  all  your  harps  of  gold ; 
But  when  you  raise  your  highest  notes, 

His  love  can  n'er  be  told. 

The  anxiety  on  the  part  of  the  blest  for  the  safety  of 
their  relations  and  friends  still  on  earth,  is  beautifully 
illustrated  by  the  case  of  a  dying   Indian   mother,  who, 


18(5  FAMILY    BEREAVEMEXTS. 

when  her  physician  sought  to  restore  her  to  the  hope 
and  love  of  life,  exclaimed :  "  No !  no  I  my  children 
recall  me.  I  see  them  by  the  side  of  the  Great  Spirit. 
They  stretch  out  their  arms  to  me,  and  are  astonished 
that  I  do  not  join  them  1 

"Hark!   heard  ye  nut  a  sound 
Sweeter  than  wild-bird's  note,  or  minstrel's  lay  ? 
I  know  that  music  well,  for  night  and  day 
I  hear  it  echoing  round. 

"It  is  the  tuneful  chime 
Of  spirit  voices!  —  'tis  my  infant  band 
Calling  the  mourner  from  this  darkened  land 
To  Joy's   unclouded  clime. 

'*  My  beautiful,  my  blest ! 
I  see  them  there,  by  the  Great  Spirit's  throne; 
With  winning  words,  and  fond,  beseeching  tone 
They  woo   me  to   my  rest." 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Chalmers  writes  beautifully  on  this  sub- 
ject ;  and  though  the  style  is  somewhat  peculiar,  the 
Christian  reader  will  not  fail  to  understand  it:  "This 
affords,  we  think,  something  more  than  a  dubious  glimpse 
into  the  question  that  is  often  put  by  a  distracted  mother 
when  her  babe  is  taken  away  from  her, — when  all  the 
converse  it  ever  had^with  the  world  amounted  to  the 
gaze  upon  it  of  a  few  months,  or  a  few  opening  smiles, 
which  marked  the  dawn  of  felt  enjoyment;  and  ere  it 
reached,  perhaps,  the  lips  of  infancy,  it,  all  unconscious 
of  death,- had  to  wrestle  through  a  period  of  sickness  with 
its  power,  and  at  length  to  be  overcome  by  it.  0 !  it 
little  knew  what  an  interest  it  had  created  in  that  home 


FAMILY    BEllEAVEMKXTS.  187 

where  it  was  80  passing  a  visitant, — nor,  when  carried 
to  its  early  grave,  what  a  tide  of  emotion  it  would  raise 
among  the  few  acquaintances  it  had  left  behind  it!  And 
should  any  parent  wno  hears  us,  feel  softened  by  the 
touching  remembrance  of  a  light  that  twinkled  a  few 
short  days  or  months  under  his  roof,  and  at  the  end  of 
its  little  period  expired,  we  cannot  think  that  we  venture 
too  far  when  we  say,  that  he  has  only  to  persevere  in 
the  faith  and  in  following  the  Gospel,  and  that  very 
light  will  again  shine  upon  him  in  heaven.  The  blossom 
which  withered  here  upon  its  stalk,  has  been  trans- 
planted there  to  a  place  of  endurance  ;  and  there  it  will 
then  gladden  that  eye  Avhich  now  weeps  out  the  agony 
of  an  affection  that  has  been  sorely  wounded  ;  and  in  the 
name  of  Him  who,  if  on  earth,  would  have  wept  along 
with  them,  do  we  bid  all  believing  parents  to  '  sorrow 
not  even  as  others  which  have  no  hope,'  "  (1  Thes.  iv. 
13 ;  Prov.  xiv.  32,)  "  but  take  comfort  in  the  thought  of 
that  '  country'  where  there  is  no  sorrow  and  no  separa- 
tion." 

The  belief  that  we  are  to  recognize  our  friends  in 
heaven,  and  associate  with  them  for  ever  there,  with  the 
full  remembrance  of  the  past,  throws  the  sublimity  of 
eternity  over  our  Christian  efforts  to  establish  each  other 
in  the  faith  and  in  the  divine  life.  Every  song  which 
the  redeemed  in  glory  sing,  commemorating  in  the  praises 
of  eternity  the  finished  w^ork  of  Jesus  and  the  efficacy  of 
his  shed  blood,  shows  that  they  have  a  remembrance  of 
the  past,  that  they  are  in  full  possession  of  the  faculty 


133  FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS. 

of  memory.  Hence  tliose  ascriptions  of  praise  to  Jesus 
which  they  raise  before  the  throne :  "  Thou  wast  shiin, 
and  hast  redeemed  us  to  (Jod  by  thy  blood,  out  of  every 
kindred  and  tongue,  and  people  and  nation."  '"  Salvation 
to  our  God  which  sitteth  upon  the  throne,  and  unto  the 
Lamb."  Can  the  glorified  forget  what  they  read  in 
their  Bibles  about  the  shedding  of  Christ's  blood  upon 
earth,  as  they  stand  with  Jesus  in  white  upon  the  hill  of 
the  heavenly  Zion  ?  Do  those  who  stood  with  the  Apos- 
tle John  upon  the  hill  of  Calvary,  and  who  saw  the 
blood  of  Immanuel  crimsoning  the  cross,  now  forget 
what  they  beheld  there  ?  Do  all  in  heaven  forget  the 
means  which  the  God  of  their  salvation  used  through 
the  agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  apply  to  their  consciences 
and  hearts  the  blood  of  atonement  ? 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Berg,  speaking  of  the  recognition  of  our 
Christian  friends  in  heaven,  says,  "  Go  where  we  will 
we  find  the  sentiment,  that  friendship  is  perpetuated  be- 
yond the  grave.  It  is  enshrined  in  the  heart  of  our  com- 
mon humanity.  The  pure  unsophisticated  belief  of  the 
vast  majority  of  mankind  is  in  union  with  the  yearnings 
of  natural  affection,  which  follows  its  object  through  the 
portals  of  the-  grave  into  the  eternal  world.  AVhat  but 
this  causes  the  Christian  parent,  in  the  dying  hour,  to 
charge  his  children  to  prepare  for  a  reunion  before  the 
throne  of  the  Lamb  ?  He  desires  to  meet  them  there, 
and  to  rejoice  with  them  in  the  victory  over  sin  and 
death.  Tell  me,  ye  Christian  parents,  who  have  seen 
the  open  tomb  receive  into  its  bosom  the  sacred  trust 
16 


FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS.  180 

fonunittc'd  to  its  keeping,  in  hope  of  the  first  resurrec- 
tion, was  not  that  consolation  the  strongest  which 
assured  you  that  the  departed  one,  whom  God  has  put 
from  you  into  darkness,  will  run  to  meet  you,  when  you 
cross  the  threshhold  of  immortality.  We  have  lost  them 
for  a  time,  but  they  have  not  lost  us.  As  they  have 
gone  higher,  they  have  capacities  and  privileges  which 
we,  who  are  still  beneath  them,  have  not;  and  this  may 
extend  to  a  constant  oversight  and  interest  in  us.  The 
Old  Testament  saints  are  represented  as  "  a  cloud  of 
witnesses"  around  us,  like  the  crowd  which  bent  down 
from  all  sides  upon  the  race-ground  in  the  Olympic  games. 
According  to  this  allasion  of  the  Apostle,  they  are  around 
us,  not  merely  as  examples,  but  interested  spectators. 
In  like  manner,  we  have  reason,  and  also  intimations  of 
Scripture,  to  confirm  us  in  the  belief  that  our  sainted 
friends  are  bending  an  interesting  eye  of  love  over  us  in 
all  our  earthly  pilgrimage.  Angels  are  the  constant  com- 
panions of  the  blest  in  heaven ;  and  they  are  also  upon 
earth,  "  ministering  spirits  sent  forth  to  minister  for  them 
w^ho  shall  be  heirs  of  salvation," 

Oh,  ye  departed  spirits  of  my  sires, 

And  ye,  the  loved  ones  of  my  childhood's  days, 
While  now  I  look  on  yonder  heavenly  fires, 
Methinks  I  hear  you  tune  your  seraph  lyres, 
Methinks  I  see  yon  bend  your  pitying  gaze 
On  him  who  still  must  tread  alone  earth's  gloomy  maze! 

Thou  angel  spirit,  who  so  oft  didst  sing 

My  infant  cares  to  sleep  upon  thy  breast. 
Let  me  but  hear  the  rustling  of  thy  wing. 
Around  thy  child  its  guardian  influence  fling! 


10)  FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS. 

Uh.   come  tliou  from  the  island  of  the  blest. 
And  bear  my  weai'y  soul  up  to  tliy  sainted  rest! 

Can  we  forget  departed  friends  ?  x\h,  no  ! 

Within  our  hearts  their  memoi-y  buried  lies; 

The  thought  that  where  they  are,  we  too  shall  go, 

Will  cast  a  light  o'er  darkest  scenes  of  wo  ; 
For  to  their  own  blest  dwellings  in  the  skies, 
The  souls  whom  Christ  sets  free  exultingly  shall  rise. 

As  God  is  to  be  regarded  both  as  an  aftectionate  father 
and  righteous  judge,  so  affliction  is  presented  in  Scrip- 
ture in  two  lights,  in  each  of  which  it  is  compatible  with 
the  most  perfect  benevolence  in  the  divine  mind.  It  is 
there  represented  as  being  partly  penal,  and  partly  cor- 
rective ;  while  in  both  it  is  declared  to  be  the  effect  of 
sin.  In  neither  case  is  it  the  spontaneous  infliction  of 
One  who  delights  in  suffering  for  its  own  sake  ;  but  the 
result  of  principles  from  which  no  wise  father,  or  judge, 
will  ever  depart.  A  good  father  cannot  apply  the  rod 
to  his  children  for  his  own  pleasure,  but  only  for  their 
profit.  Can  God  then  intend  the  infliction  for  evil  ?  Can 
He  who  sent  his  beloved  Son  to  die  for  us  take  plea- 
sure in  our  misery  ?  Far  be  the  thought  from  our  minds. 
Are  you  a  father,  and  do  you  feel  the  tender  yearnings 
of  paternal  affection  ?  0  say,  then,  did  you  ever  take  the 
rod  into  3^our  hand  from  a  pleasure  you  felt  in  torment- 
ing your  children  ?  Did  the  smart  it  produced  ever  yield 
you  gratification  ?  Nay,  did  you  not  feel  more  pain  than 
you  inflicted  ?  Yet  you  felt  it  to  be  imperative  not  to 
spare  the  rod.  The  infliction  was  not  the  result  of  arbi- 
trary power,  or  of  a  deficiency  of  kindness,  but  the  evi- 


FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS.  191 

donee,  the  expression  of  love.  It  was  dictated  by  affec- 
tion and  a  concern  for  the  welfare  of  your  children.  You 
discovered  in  them  evils  which  required  to  be  corrected, 
and  to  have  neglected  the  proper  exercise  of  discipline 
would  have  been  as  ruinous  to  their  interests,  as  dishon- 
orable to  your  own  character.  Chastisement  is  not  less  the 
effect  of  God's  parental  love ;  and  the  conclusion  is  so 
much  the  more  decisive,  inasmuch  as  the  fathers  of  our 
flesh  are  sinful,  whereas  God  is  absolutely  and  infinitely 
perfect.  He  knows  the  exact  measure  of  discipline  of 
which  the  Christian  soldier  stands  in  need,  and  the  pro- 
per time  of  applying  it. 

It  is  shocking  to  a  true  Christian  soldier,  to  hear  those 
who  profess  to  love  God,  aggravate  their  trials,  and 
debase  their  profession,  by  looking  back  to  this  and  that 
and  the  other  circumstance  and  dwelling  upon  that  as 
what  gave  rise  to  the  whole  train  of  misfortunes  and 
afflictions.  And  yet  all  the  while  these  murmurers  say 
they  believe  in  God's  purposes  and  decrees,  and  that  he 
worketh  all  things  after  the  counsel  of  his  will !  How 
far  is  this  beneath  the  Christian !  Have  a  care  of  your 
thoughts,  of  your  w^ords ;  insubordination  slips  in  at  the 
door  before  one  is  aware.  "  It  is  well,"  is  the  only  soul- 
quickening  response  to  God's  voice  of  affliction.  There 
is  wisdom  seen  in  making  contraries  work  together  for 
good.  That  which  is  now  your  burden  might  have  been 
your  ruin. 

We  may  puzzle  ourselves  about  instruments  and  second 
causes,  but  no  rest  can  we  have,  till  we  are  led  to  the 
First.      "He  performeth  the  thing    appointed  for  me." 


192  FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS. 

That  settles  the  soul,  but  nothing  else  will  do  it.  Job 
was  well  convinced  of  this  truth  when  he  said,  "Afflic- 
tions Cometh  not  forth  of  the  dust,  neither  doth  trouble 
spring  out  of  the  ground."  Job  v.  6  ;  Amos  iii.  6.  "Be 
still,  and  know  that  I  am  God."  Psalm  xlvi.  10 ;  Pro  v. 
XX.  24  ;  Jer.  x.  23,  24.  There  is  nothing  in  which  Chris- 
tians show  a  more  unchristian  spirit,  and  yet  few  sins 
beset  them  more  easily,  than  an  anxious  concern  and 
fretful  care  about  some  outward  things  which  have  in 
themselves  no  power  to  do  good  or  evil,  otherwise  than 
as  instruments  in  God's  hand  to  attain  his  appointed 
end.  Shall  we  quarrel  with  the  sword  because  it  suffered 
itself  to  be  drawn.  Isaiah  x.  15.  There  is  no  such 
thing  as  "  chance,"  as  it  regards  God  ;  for  not  even  a 
sparrow  falls  to  the  ground  without  his  will.  Luke  xii.  6  ; 
Matt.  X.  29.  "The  lot  is  thrown  into  the  lap,  but  the 
whole  disposing  thereof  is  of  the  Lord."  Prov.  xvi.  33. 
Let  the  chain  of  second  causes  be  ever  so  long,  the  first 
link  is  always  in  God's  hand.  "Thus  saith  the  Lord, 
thy  Redeemer,  the  Holy  One  of  Israel,  I  am  the  Lord 
thy  God  which  teacheth  thee  to  profit,  which  leadeth 
thee  by  the  way  that  thou  shouldest  go." 

The  following  lines  will  help  young  soldiers  of  the 
cross  to  a  more  perfect  understanding  of  these  passages 
of  Scripture  :— 

THE     CHANGED     CROSS. 

It  was  a  time  of  sadness,   and  my  heart, 
Although  it  knew  and  loved  the  better  part, 
Felt  wearied  with  the  conflict  and  the  strife, 
And  all  the  needed  discipline  of  life. 
16* 


FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS.  193 

And  while  I  thought  on  these,  as  given  to  me, 
My  trial  tests  of  faith  and  love  to  be, 
It  seemed  as  if  I  never  could  be  sure 
That  faithful  to  the   end  I  should  endure. 

And  thus,  no  longer  trusting  to  his  might 
Who  says,  "  We  walk  by  faith  and  not  by  sight," 
Doubting,  and  almost  yielding  to  despair, 
The  thought  arose — My  cross  I  cannot  bear ! 

Far  heavier  its  weight  must  surely  be 
Than  those  of  others  which  I  daily  see  ; 
Oh,  if  I  might  another  burden  choose, 
Methinks  I  should  not  fear  my  crown  to  lose. 

A  solemn  silence  reigned  on  all  around, 
E'en  nature's  voices  uttered  not  a  sound, 
The  evening  shadows  seemed  of  peace  to  tell, 
And  sleep  upon  my  weary  spirit  fell. 

A  moment's  pause — and  then  a  heavenly  light 
Beamed  full  upon  my  wondering,  raptured  sight, 
Angels  on  silvery  wings  seemed  everywhere, 
And  angels'  music  thrill'd  the  balmy  air. 

Then  One  more  fair  than  all  the  rest  to  see. 
One  to  whom  all  the  others  bow'd  the  knee, 
Came  gently  to  me  as  I  trembling  lay, 
And— "Follow  Me,"  he  said,  "I  am  the  Way." 

Then  speaking  thus,  He  led  me  far  above, 
And  there  beneath  a  canopy  of  love, 
Crosses  of  divers  shape  and  size  were  seen, 
Larger  and  smaller  than  mine  own  had  been. 

And  one  there  was  most  beauteous  to  behold, 
A  little  one,  a  little  one  with  jewels  set  in  gold- 
Ah,  this,  methought,  I  can  with  comfort  wear. 
For  it  will  be  an  easy  one  to  bear. 

And  so  the  little  cross  I  quickly  took, 
But  all  at  once  my  frame  beneath  it  shook; 
The  sparkling  jewels,  fair  were  they  to  see, 
But  far  too  heavy  was  their  weight  to  me. 
17 


194  FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS. 

This  may  not  be,  I  cried — and  looked  again 
To  see  if  any  there  could  ease  my  pain ; 
But  one  by  one  I  passed  them  slowly  by, 
Till  on  a  lovely  one  I  cast  my  eye. 

Fair  flowers  around  its  sculptur'd  form  entwin'd, 
And  grace  and  beauty  seemed  in  it  combin'd  ; 
Wondering,  I  gazed,  and  still  I  wonder'd  more 
To  think  so  many  should  have  pass'd  it  o'er. 

But  oh,  that  form  so  beautiful  to  see. 
Soon  made  its  hidden  sorrows  known  to  me : — 
Thorns  lay  beneath  those  flowers  and  colors  fair; 
Sorrowing  I  said, — This  cross  I  may  not  bear. 

And  so  it  was  with  each  and  all  around, 

Not  one  to  suit  my  need  could  there  be  found ; 

Weeping,  I  laid  each  heavy  burden  down, 

As  my  guide  gently  said,   "No  cross,  no  crown." 

At  length  to  Him  I  raised  my  saddened  heart ; 
He  knew  its  sorrows,  bid  its  doubts  depart : 
"Be  not  afraid,"  He  said,   "but  trust  in  me, 
My  perfect  love  shall  now  be  shown  to  thee." 

And  then,  with  lighten' d  eyes  and  willing  feet, 
Again  I  turn'd  my  earthly  cross  to  meet. 
With  forward  footsteps  turning  not  aside, 
For  fear  some  hidden  evil  might  betide. 

And  there,  in  the  prepar'd,  appointed  way, 
Listening  to  hear  and  ready  to  obey, 
A  cross  I  quickly  found  of  plainest  form, 
With  only  words  of  love  inscribed  thereon. 

With  thankfulness  I  raised  it  from  the  rest 
And  joyfully  acknowledged  it  the  best, 
The  only  one  of  all  the  many  there, 
That  I  could  feel  was  good  for  me  to  bear. 

And  while  I  thus  my  chosen  one  confess'd, 
I  saw  a  heavenly  brightness  on  it  rest, 
And  as  I  bent  my  burden  to  sustain, 
I  recognized  my  own  old  cross  again  ! 


FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS.  195 

But  oh,  how  different  did  it  seem  to  be, 
Now  1  had  learned  its  preciousness  to  see. 
No  longer  could  I  unbelieving  say — 
Perhaps  another  is  a  better  way. 

Ah,  no !  henceforth  my  one  desire  shall  be, 
That  He  who  knows  me  best  shall  choose  for  me; 
And  so,   whate'er  his  love  sees  good  to  send, 
I'll  trust  it's  best — because    he  knows  the   end. 

Alas  !  how  unworthily  we  bear  the  name  of  Christians, 
when  that  which  carried  the  forefathers  of  our  faith 
through  their  fiery  trials  can  not  support  us  under  the 
disappointment  of  any  extravagant  desire !  They  had 
such  a  "respect  to  the  recompense  of  the  reward"  as 
made  them  cheerfully  expose  their  fame  to  ignominy, 
their  goods  to  rapine,  their  bodies  to  exquisite  tortures, 
and  their  lives  to  death.  Heb.  xi.  4-38 ;  x.  34  ;  1  Cor.  ii. 
9,  10;  Isaiah  Ixiv.  4.  Yet  the  same  hope  cannot  work 
us  to  any  tolerable  degree  of  patience,  when  we.  suffer 
but  the  smallest  diminution  of  any  of  these!  What 
shall  we  say  ?  Is  heaven  grown  less  valuable,  or  earth 
more  than  it  was  then?  Ah,  no;  but  we  are  more  in- 
fatuated in  oQr  estimates.  Like  Jonah,  we  sit  down 
sullenly  upon  the  withering  of  a  gourd,  never  consider- 
ing that  God  has  provided  a  better  shelter,  "  a  building 
of  God  eternal  in  the  heavens."  2  Cor.  v.  1 ;  John  xiv. 
2,  3.  Indeed,  there  can  be  no  affliction  or  temporal 
destitution  so  great  which  such  an  expectation  can  not 
make  supportable.  "Beloved,"  says  the  Apostle  Peter, 
"  think  it  not  strange,  concerning  the  fiery  trial  which  is 
to  try  vou,  as  though  some  strange  thing  happened  unto 


196  FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS. 

you  :  but  rejoice,  inasmuch  as  ye  are  partakers  of  Christ's 
sufferings;  that  when  his  glory  shall  be  revealed,  ye 
may  be  glad  also  with  exceeding  joy.  If  ye  be  reproached 
for  the  name  of  Christ,  happy  are  ye ;  for  the  Spirit  of 
glory  and  of  God  resteth  upon  you.  On  their  i):irt  he  is 
evil  spoken  of,  but  on  your  part  he  is  glorified."  Again, 
"  For  what  glory  is  it,  if,  when  ye  be  buffeted  for  your 
faults,  ye  shall  take  it  patiently?  but  if,  when  ye  do 
well,  and  suffer  for  it,  ye  take  it  patiently,  this  is  accept- 
able with  God.  For  even  hereunto  were  ye  called: 
because  Christ  also  suffered  for  us,  leaving  us  an  example, 
that  we  should  follow  in  his  steps:  who  did  no  sin, 
neither  was  guile  found  in  his  mouth :  who,  when  he 
was  reviled,  reviled  not  again;  when  he  suffered,  he 
threatened  not;  but  committed  himself  to  Him  that 
judgeth  righteously :  who  his  own  self  bare  our  sins  in 
his  own  body  on  the  tree,  that  we,  being  dead  to  sins, 
should  live  unto  righteousness:  by  whose  stripes  ye 
were  healed."  1  Peter  ii.  20-24  ;  Isaiah  liii.  3-12.  ''  Yea, 
and  all  that  will  live  godly  in  Christ  Jesus  shall  suffer 
persecution.  But  evil  men  and  seducers  shall  wax 
worse,  deceiving,  and  being  deceived." 

St.  Paul,  speaking  of  certain  "  visions  and  revelations 
of  the  Lord,"  says:  "Most  gladly  therefore  will  I  rather 
glory  in  my  infirmities,  that  the  power  of  Christ  may 
rest  upon  me.  Therefore  I  take  pleasure  in  infirmities, 
in  reproaches,  in  necessities,  in  persecution,  in  distresses 
for  Christ's  sake :  for  when  I  am  weak,  then  am  I 
strong."  2  Cor.  xii.  9,  10;  1  Cor.  ix.   26,  27;  Isaiah  xl. 


FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS.  197 

29-31.  "For  unto  you  it  is  given  in  the  behalf  of 
Christ,  not  only  to  believe  on  him,  but  also  to  suffer  for 
his  sake ;  having  the  same  conflict  which  ye  saw  in  me, 
and  now  hear  to  be  in  me."  Phil.  i.  29,  30 ;  Eph.  vi.  12 ; 
2  Tim.  iv.  7,  8 ;  Rev.  xxi.  7. 

With  regard  to  the  nature  of  that  change  which  the 
bodies  of  the  saints  shall  experience  at  the  resurrection, 
the  apostle  Paul  informs  us  that  they  shall  be  raised,  in- 
corruptible, glorious,  powerful,  and  spiritual.  1  Cor.  xv. 
42-58.  They  shall  be  raised  in  glory.  It  is  sown  in  dis- 
honor, it  shall  be  raised  in  glory,  and  be  fashioned  like 
unto  the  glorious  body  of  the  Redeemer.  Phil.  iii.  21. 
The  glorified  body  of  Christ  will  be  the  model  after 
which  the  bodies  of  the  saints  will  be  fashioned ;  and 
we  know  that  when  Christ  appeared  to  the  apostles,  on 
the  mount  of  transfiguration,  in  his  glorified  body,  "his 
face  did  shine  as  the  sun,  and  his  raiment  became  white 
and  glistening."  The  bodies  of  the  saints,  freed  from 
every  deformity  and  decrepitude  to  which  they  were  sub- 
ject in  this  present  sinful  state,  will  then  appear  arrayed 
in  all  the  vigor  and  bloom  of  perpetual  youth,  a  sweet 
and  heavenly  lustre  will  beam  from  their  countenances; 
and  a  glory  inexpressible,  and  suited  to  their  high  and 
exalted  condition,  will  surround  them. 

Abel  was  the  first  human  being  whose  body  found  a 

grave  on  earth, — the  first  whose  spirit  found  a  home  in 

heaven.    He  was  there  alone  ;  yet  not  lonely,  for  though 

of  men,  he  was  not  without  society.     Those  "sons  of 

God,"  who  "shouted  for  joy"  when  earth's  foundations 
17* 


198  FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS. 

were  laid,  and  wheu  man  was  created  in  the  Divine 
image  to  be  its  occupant,  exulted  with  a  new  delight  on 
receiving  amongst  them  the  first  fruits  of  the  scheme  of 
redeeming  mercy. 

Alone  he  seems,  and  chants  apart, 

In  unexpected  notes, 
A  music,   where  the  grateful  heart 

In  strains  of  feeling  floats : 
A  beauteous  soul!  whose  seraph  brow 

Is  bright  with  glory's  hue, — 
Lo !  angels  pause  to  hear  him  now 

Their  harping  praise  outdo. 

45-  *  *  *  -X- 

With  such  a  burst  of  whelming  love 

As  earth's  first  martyr  sang, — 
When,  glory  to  the  Lord  above ! 

The  voice  of  Abel  rang. 
Angelic  harps  their  key-note  found 

In  God  as  great  and  good. 
But  Abel's  heart  did  beat  and  bound 

As  only  sinner's  could. 

**  Worthy  the  Lamb  who  shall  be  slain  ;* 

Redemption  crowns  my  song  ; 
Ye  seraphim,  your  notes  retain. 

But  these  to  me  belong!" 

*  It  was  Christ  who  appeared  to  Abraham.  It  was  Christ  who 
wrestled  with  Jacob.  It  was  Christ  who  led  Israel  out  of  Egypt, 
and  by  the  hands  of  Moses  and  Aaron,  conducted  the  people  to 
the  promised  land.  It  was  Christ,  who,  before  he  came  in  the 
flesh,  appeared  in  these  early  ages  to  the  Church  as  her  guardian 
and  her  God.  St.  Paul  distinctly  charges  the  host  in  the  desert 
with  having  tempted  Christ.  "Neither,"  says  he,  "let  us  tempt 
Christ,  as  some  of  them  also  tempted,  and  were  destroyed  of  ser- 
pents." The  benefits  of  Christ's  death  were  enjoyed  before  he 
died  ;  the  legacies  of  the  Will  were  paid  before  the  demise  of  the 
Testator  ;  for  the  saints,  who  lived  in  the  days  that  preceded  his 
advent,  were  received  to  glory,  if  we  may  so  speak,  upon  his  bond, 
his  promise  to  pay. 


FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS.  lUO 

Thus  might   the  primal  soul  who  came 

Forth  from  its  bleeding  clay, 
Kindle  the  heavens  with  His  bright  name 

Who  is  our  Truth  and  Way, 

And  with  that  song  of  glory  blent 

An  humbling  depth  of  tone, 
Which  to  the  ransom'd  harper  lent 

A  music  all  its  own. 

Angels  for  bliss  and  being  sang 

Their  ecstucies  on  high ; 
But  how  the  heavens  with  wonder  rang 

When  man  awoke  the  sky  ! 

But  even  as  a  human  spirit,  Abel  was  not  long  alone ; 
millions  of  the  redeemed  sons  and  daughters  of  earth  are 
with    him    now ;    and   the    company   is    every    day    in- 
creasing.    There  are  the  patriarchs  and  prophets.    Abra- 
ham, Isaac,  and  Jacob  are  there  ;  and  David,  "  the  sweet 
singer  of  Israel"  is  among  them.     O  how  sweet  their 
songs!  how  bright  their  crowns!    Dan.  xii.  3;  Mai.  iii. 
17;  Matt.  xiii.  43.     0  what  inexpressible  rapture  there 
must  be  in  that  music  where  the  instruments  are  of  the 
manufacture  of  "the  Lord  of  glory"  himself!  and  where 
every  voice  is  a  million  times  richer  and  sweeter  than 
that  of  the  sweetest  and  most  skilful  singer  of  earth  I 
"  Eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard,  neither  have  entered 
into  the  heart  of  man,"  the  happiness  and  glory  of  that 
company.   1  Cor.  ii.  9,  10 ;  Isaiah  Ixiv.  4.     Sickness,  sor- 
row, and  death  never  enter  there ;  cares,  fears,  and  anxieties 
are  never  felt  there ;  poverty,  privation,  and  disappoint- 
ment are  never  known  there.    There  no  idol  temples  pol- 
lute the  groves  and  mountain-tops.     There  no  spirit  of 


200  FAMILY   BEREAVEMENTS. 

horror  broods  over  ancient  battle-fields.  There  no  frightful 
Golgothas,  or  places  of  skulls,  waken  up  remembrances  of 
associations  of  guilt  and  death.  There  no  dark  spirits  rule 
the  air,  or  dwell  amid  desolations  and  tombs.  There  no 
ground  which  once  drank  the  blood  of  martyrs,  or  of  God's 
uwn  Son.  There  no  serpents  hiss  under  the  tree  of  life, 
or  bruise  the  heel  of  those  white-robed  ones  that  stray  by 
the  fountains  of  living  water.  There  no  foul  worms  creep 
forth  from  the  heart  of  ripening  fruit,  and  no  poisonous, 
softly  stealing  death  revels  on  the  cheek  of  beauty.  Bright, 
pure,  and  blessed  "country." 

0  blissful  scene  ! — where  sever'd  hearts 

Renew  the  ties  most  cherish'd, — 
Where  nought  tlie  mourn'd  and  mourner  parts, — 

Where  grief  with  life  is  perish'd. 
Oh,  nought  do  I  desire  so  well 
As  here  to  die,  and  there  to  dwell ! 

No  cloud  ever  darkens  the  sky  of  that  blessed  world ; 
no  tempest  disturbs  the  air.  Here,  the  flowers  fade  with 
a  touch  ;  but  there,  beneath  a  brighter  Sun  and  in  a  nobler 
soil,  the  trees  flourish  in  perpetual  verdure,  the  leaves 
never  wither,  the  flowers  never  fade,  and  every  month  pro- 
duces its  perfect  fruit.  And,  what  is  still  better,  there 
shall  be  no  more  sin.  (Rev.  xxi.  27;  xxii.  15.)  "And 
there  shall  be  no  more  death,  neither  sorrow  nor  crying, 
neither  shall  there  be  any  more  pain ;  for  the  former  things 
are  passed  away."     (Rev.  xxi.  4.)     "  And  there  shall  be  no 


FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS.  201 

night  there ;  and  they  need  no  candle,  neither  light  of  the 
sun ;  for  the  Lord  God  giveth  them  light,  and  they  shall 
rei2;n  forever  and  ever." 


'S" 


"  0  happy  country  I   where 

There  entereth  not  a  sin; 
And  Death,  who  keeps  its  portals  fair, 

May  never  once  come  in. 
No  grief  can  change  their  day  to  night ; 
The  darkness  of  that  land  is  light: 
Sorrow  and  sighing  God  has  sent 
Far  thence  to  endless  banishment. 
And  never  more  may  one  dark  tear 

Bedim  their  burning  skies  ; 
For  every  one  they  shed  while  here, 

In  fearful  agonies, 
Glitters  a  bright  and  dazzling  gem 
In  their  immortal  diadem," 

0,  what  a  revelation  I  —  The  map  of  time  disclosed, 
and  every  little  rill  of  sorrow,  every  river  of  trouble  will 
be  seen  to  have  been  flowing  heavenward. — every  "  rough 
blast"  to  have  been  sending  the  bark  nearer  the  heavenly 
shore.  (Isaiah  xlviii.  17;  John  xiii.  7.)  0,  what  a 
meeting  there  of  Christian  parents  and  their  Christian 
children,  of  Christian  brothers  and  sisters,  and  death- 
divided  Christian  friends  I  what  mutual  gratulations  I  what 
happiness !  and,  0,  what  joy  unspeakable  to  see  Jesus, 
and  get  their  warmest  welcome  from  the  lips  of  Him  who 
redeemed  thciu  with  his  own  blood !  and  in  the  aironies  of 


202  FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS. 

His  cross,  suffered  for  them  more  than  a  mother's  pangs, — 
"  the  travail  of  His  soul !" 

Stupendous  love ! 
Can  man  for  this  ungrateful  prove, 
Jesus,  the  Saviour!  what  rebellious  knee 
Would  not  a  ready  homage  pay  to  Thee? 

The  martyrs'  glorious  train, 
Thy  noble  votaries  of  old, 
In  records  of  immortal  fame  enroU'd, 
Wore  on  their  breasts  inscribed  Thy  mighty  name. 
By  this  with  sacred  fortitude  inspired. 
With  heavenly  zeal  and  transport  fired. 
They  ran  upon  the  pointed  spear 

And  leap'd  into  the  flame  ; 
Nor  death  could  in  a  shape  appear 
But  what  with  open  ai'ms  they  met, 
Despising  all  that  rage  could  "do,  or  proudest  tyrant's  threats. 
Not  hell  itself  their  constancy  could  shake ; 
Its  deepest  stratagems  they  brake. 
Its  wildest  fury  trampled  down. 
And  seized  with  conqu'ring  hands  the  everlasting  crown. 
"Jesus!  "  the  signal  for  the  fight  they  chose, 
And  gave  a  glorious  onset  to  their  foes. 
In  vain  the  powers  of  earth  and  hell  oppose. 
"Jesus!  our  conqu'ring  chief!"  they  cried; 
"Jesus!"  aloud  the  surrounding  skies  replied. 

Exalted  Name  I 
From  Thee  the  burning  seraphs  catch  their  flame. 
Jesus  the  God!  'tis  they  alone  can  tell 
What  treasures  in  that  title  dwell. 


FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS.  2Uo 

You  happy  spirits,  that  feel  its  emphasis, 
By  this  you  stand  confirmed  in  bliss. 
And  know  what  boundless  joys  are  stored 

In  this  important  word. 
The  glorious  subject  only  suits 
The  high-toned  notes  of  your  immortal  lutes. 

Then  join  the  choir, 
You  bright  musicians  of  the  skies, 
And,  with  a  well-proportion'd  fire. 
Instruct  us  how  to  rise. 
Let  your  bless'd  harps  the  imperfect  lay  prolong, 
Complete  the  bold  design,  and  close  th'  adveut'rous  song. 

The  world  has  nothing  to  entertain  the  faithful  soldier 
of  Christ.  (1  John  ii.  15,  16;  Philipp.  iii.  7,  8;  Psalni 
Ixxiii.  25,  26.)  Death  has  no  terrors  for  him.  (1  Cor.  xv. 
56,  57;  Rev.  xiv.  13;  Job  xix.  25-27;  Psalm  xxiii.  4; 
Isaiah  ii.  10;  Ivii.  1,  2.)  The  language  of  his  heart  is, 
"  O  Thou  whom  unseen  I  love,  by  what  powerful  influence 
dost  Thou  attract  my  soul  ?  Thou  dwellest  in  the  heights 
of  glory  to  which  no  human  voice  can  soar,  and  yet  Thou 
art  more  near  and  dear  to  me  than  any  of  the  objects  of 
sense."  (John  xiv.  21-23;  1  Cor.  vi.  19;  2  Cor.  vi.  16; 
xiii.  5;  Rev.  iii.  20 ;  Cant.  v.  1,  2.)  "  Oh,  where  could  I 
be  happy  remote  from  Thee  ?  I  love  the  brethren, — T  love 
my  Christian  friends;  but  T  love  Thee  more  than  all.  'I 
will  arise  now,  and  go  about  the  city  in  the  streets,  and  in 
the  broad  ways  I  will  seek  Him  whom  my  soul  loveth.  I 
sought  Him ;  but  I  found  Him  not.     The  watchmen  that 


204  FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS. 

go  about  the  city  found  me  :  to  whom  I  said,  Saw  ye  Him 
whom  my  soul  loveth  ?  It  was  but  a  little  that  I  passed 
from  them,  but  I  found  Him  whom  my  soul  loveth  :  I  held 
Him,  and  would  not  let  Him  go,  until  I  had  brought  Him 
into  my  mother's  house,  and  into  the  chamber  of  her  that 
conceived  me.'  '  I  sat  down  under  His  shadow  with  great 
delight,  and  His  fruit  was  sweet  to  my  taste.'  0  my  Be- 
loved !  '  sweet  is  Thy  voice,  and  Thy  countenance  is 
comely.'  '  My  Beloved  is  mine  !  and  I  am  His !'  ^  I 
sleep,  but  my  heart  waketh :  it  is  the  voice  of  my  Beloved 
that  knocketh.'  Adieu  to  all  human  things!  Welcome 
unutterable  delight !  All  hail !  ye  joys  unspeakable  and 
full  of  glory !  Compared  to  you,  what  are  worldly  plea- 
sures ?  what  is  all  that  men  of  the  world  call  happiness  ? 
Vanish,  ye  terrestrial  scenes  !  fly  away,  ye  vain  objects  of 
sense  !     0  break  my  fetters,  for  I  must  be  gone  V 

Hold  on  faith  :  it  is  but  a  little  while,  and  your  work 
will  be  at  an  end  ;  but  a  few  more  hours,  days,  or  years, 
and  your  sighs  and  tears  shall  be  converted  into  everlast- 
ing hallelujahs ;  but  a  few  more  steps,  and  the  journey  of 
life  will  be  finished.  In  that  happy  "  moment,"  the  faith- 
ful soldier  of  the  cross  shall  be  freed  from  temptation,  sin, 
and  sorrow.  He  "shall  obtain  joy  and  gladness,  and  sor- 
row and  sighing  shall  flee  away."  (Isaiah  xxxv.  10.) 
His  sun  shall  no  more  go  down  ;  neither  shall  his  moon 
withdraw  itself:  for  the  Lord  shall  be  his  everlasting  light, 
and  the  days  of  his  mourning  shall  be  ended.  (Isaiah  Ix. 
20.)  In  that  happy  day,  the  redeemed  might  well  ex- 
claim,— 


FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS.  205 

"Glory  to  God,  all  our  dangers  are  o'er; 
We  stand  secure  on  the  glorified  shore; 
Glory  to  God,  we  will  shout  evermore. 
We're  home  at  last,  home  at  last." 

The  faithful  soldier  of  the  cross  does  not  fear  the  grave ; 
because  his  Saviour  has  promised  He  will  never  leave  nor 
forsake  him.  (Heb.  xiii.  5;  Psalm  xxiii.  4.)  He  takes 
hold  of  His  strength.  (Isaiah  xxvii.  5;  xl.  29-31.)  The 
breakers  will  perhaps  run  mountains  high  as  he  goes  over 
the  bar;  but  he  does  not  fear,  because  Jesus  is  at  the  helm. 
The  next  wave  will  float  him  far  beyond  the  trials  and  con- 
flicts of  earth.  In  that  blessed  "  moment"  all  his  labors 
and  sufferings  shall  close  in  the  everlasting  enjoyment  of 
the  wealth,  the  glories,  and  the  joys  of  his  "Father's 
house."  He  shall  then  ''see  the  King  in  His  beauty;  he 
shall  behold  the  land  that  is  very  far  off"."  (Isaiah  xxxiii. 
17.)  In  that  day  the  Lord  will  rejoice  over  him  with  joy; 
He  will  rest  in  his  love ;  He  will  joy  over  him  with  sing- 
ing, and  wipe  away  all  tears  from  his  eyes.  (Zeph.  iii.  17; 
Rev.  xxi.  4.)  In  that  blessed  land,  ''  the  inhabitant  shall 
not  say,  I  am  sick"  (Isaiah  xxxiii.  24 ;  Rev.  xxi.  4)  ;  there 
the  eye  of  the  patriarch  shall  never  grow  dim  again  ;  there 
Jacob  shall  no  longer  halt,  and  Lazarus  retain  no  traces  of 
his  maladies.  No  mortal  ever  conceived  of  a  form  so 
.beautiful  and  glorious  as  shall  then  belong  to  the  saint 
whose  body  was  the  most  unlovely  and  misshapen  here ; 
for  it  will  "be  fashioned  like  unto  His  glorious  body," — 
'•  not  having  spot  or  wrinkle,  or  any  such  thing."     O  how 


206  FAiMILY    BEREAVExMENTS. 

dazzling !  how  divinely  fair !  what  inexpressible  pleasure 
in  every  smile  ! 

There  the  blood-washed  millions  shall  join  with  che- 
rubim and  seraphim,  angels  and  archangels,  thrones  and 
dominions,  principalities  and  powers,  to  sweep  the  loud- 
strung  lyre,  and  roll  the  melodious  anthem  along  the  tide 
of  everlasting  ages.  Whatever  can  give  delight,  whatever 
can  satisfy  the  soul  in  all  the  boundless  capacities  of  joy, 
will  be  there.  Never  did  the  eyelids  of  the  morning  open 
on  such  perfection;  never  did  the  sun,  since  first  it  jour- 
neyed through  the  skies,  behold  such  beauty;  nor  can 
human  fimcy,  in  its  most  inspired  flights,  conceive  such 
glories.  Christianity  describes  them  by  pronouncing  them 
indescribable.  She  declares  that  "  Eye  hath  not  seen,  nor 
ear  heard,  neither  have  entered  into  the  heart  of  man,  the 
things  which  God  hath  prepared  for  them  that  love  him." 

The  biographer  of  Dr.  Gordon,  speaking  of  his  near  ap- 
proach to  death,  says,  "  On  awaking  after  a  long  sleep,  he 
took  the  writer's  hand,  and,  grasping  it  tenderly,  said,  '  I 
feel  I  am  hastening  away  very  ropidly  to-day.  0  that 
blessed  Saviour !  How  I  love  Ilim  !  Preach  Him  fre- 
quently, Newman  !  Speak  of  that  blessed  Book.  I  must 
have  more  of  it — read  more  chapters  in  John.'  "  To  an- 
other friend,  who  expressed  surprise  at  witnessing  such 
composure,  he  replied,  "  Confidence  in  Christ  conveys  vigor 
to  my  heart.  Without  Him  I  should  be  weak  indeed. 
Attribute  nothing  of  it  to  me.  The  man  who  hopes  to  be 
saved  by  his  own  works,  will  have  no  peace  of  mind.  He 
must  think  of  himself  as    nothing."     (1   Cor.  viii.  2,  3; 


FAMILY    IJEREAVEMENTS.  207 

Luke  xvii.  10.)  To  the  Agent  and  Secretary  of  the  Tem- 
perance Society,  who  told  him  how  deeply  he  would  be 
regretted  in  the  town,  he  replied,  "  I  wish  to  live  in  the 
affectionate  remembrance  of  my  friends ;  but  I  wish  them 
to  have  the  same  enjoyment,  and  they  can  only  have  it  by 
seeking  Christ."  In  conversation  with  his  family,  he  said, 
"How  can  I  help  loving  Him?  I  seem  to  see  Him  with 
His  heavenly  countenance  smiling  on  me  now.  He  has 
pardoned  me,  washed  me,  clothed  me.  I  feel  I  could  not 
rebel  against  Him.  What  are  men  about  when,  with  such 
a  theme,  they  can  preach  such  sermons  as  many  of  them 
deliver !  There  are  not  only  joys  to  come,  but  joys  in  this 
world.  Having  Him  so  near  as  a  companion,"  (John  xiv. 
21-23;  1  Cor.  vi.  19,  20;  2  Cor.  xiii.  5;  Colos.  i.  27;  1 
John  iv.  4;  Rev.  iii.  20;  Cant.  v.  1,  2,)  "it  takes  from 
us  evil  thoughts,  an>bition,  and  avarice.  He  says,  '  If  ye 
love  iMe,  keep  my  commandments.'  And  what  are  His 
commandments  ?  Not  grievous.  There  was  He  seeking  me 
out  first,  and  not  I  seeking  Him  !  And  whence  came  this? 
By  grace  we  are  saved  through  faith;  and  not  of  ourselves: 
it  is  the  gift  of  God.  (Eph.  ii.  8.)  Oh,  think  of  Christ. 
How  can  any  one  think  of  himself?" 

Another  friend  remarked,  "  I  remember  once  thinking 
it  folly  to  talk  of  being  born  again.  I  knew  not  what  it 
meant."  To  this  remark  Dr.  Gordon  replied,  "  But  we 
know  now\  It  is  the  strong  conviction  of  the  truth  of 
Christianity  which  gives  me  peace  and  blessedness.  It 
has  changed  my  whole  nature."  The  same  friend  con- 
tinued, "John    Newton,   when    entangled   by  skepticism. 


208  FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS. 

resolved  to  test  the  truth  of  Christianity  by  seeking  the 
Divine  influence  promised  in  answer  to  prayer,  arguing 
that,  if  religion  were  true,  the  result  of  such  seeking 
would  be  the  evidence  of  it."  "  That  is  the  argument/' 
said  Dr.  Gordon,  "  which  weighs  with  me.  No  mere  rea- 
son of  man  could  have  written  the  Bible.  Reason  may 
find  fault  with  it,  but  could  not  have  made  it.  0,  it  is 
a  Book !  Bead  every  word  of  it,  and  believe  it  just  as  it 
is."  By  his  own  request,  the  Lord's  Supper  was  adminis- 
tered in  his  room.  The  beautiful  hymn  of  Dr.  Watts  was 
sung : 

"  There  is  a  land  of  pure  delight, 

Where  saints  immortal  reign  ; 
Infinite  day  excludes  the  night, 

And  pleasures  banish  pain." 

"  He  then  took  a  most  tender  farewell  of  his  afflicted 
wife.  To  his  daughter,  who  bent  over  him  in  great  dis- 
tress, he  said,  with  inexpressible  tenderness,  '  Bless  thee, 
my  child  !'  '  You  love  me  still,  father  ?'  '  Yes,  dearly  !' 
He  then  opened  his  hand,  which  had  now  almost  lost  its 
power  of  motion,  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  hers,  which 
he  tenderly  pressed,  together  with  that  of  the  writer.  This 
was  the  last  act.  After  a  pause,  he  said  suddenly,  but  not 
without  considerable  effort,  '  Bring  them  all  in, — every- 
body !'  Increased  difficulty  of  breathing  was  the  only  dis- 
tressing symptom.  He  appeared  no  longer  conscious  of 
what  took  place  around  him.  He  gazed  upward,  as  in 
rapt  vision.  No  film  overspread  his  eyes.  They  beamed 
with    an    unwonted    lustre,    and    the   whole    countenance, 


FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS.  2()0 

losing  the  aspect  of  disease  antl  pain,  with  which  \vc  had 
been  so  lon^^  familiar,  glowed  with  an  expression  of  inde- 
scribable rapture.  As  we  watched  in  silent  wonder  and 
praise,  his  features,  which  had  become  motionless,  suddenly 
yielded  for  a  few  seconds  to  a  smile  i»f  ecsta.sy,  which  no 
pencil  could  ever  depict,  and  which  none  who  witnessed  it 
can  ever  forget.  And  when  it  passed  away,  still  the  whole 
countenance  continued  to  beam  and  brighten,  as  if  reflect- 
ing the  glory  upon  which  he  was  gazing."  (See  Exodus 
xxxiv.  29,  30;  Psahn  xxxvi.  9;  Isaiah  1.  10,  and  Acts  vi. 
15.) 

"  We  saw,"  continues  his  biographer,  "  as  much  as  mor- 
tal eye  could  see  of  the  entrance  of  a  soul  into  glory. 
Nothing  more  could  have  been  given  us,  but  the  actual 
vision  of  the  separate  spirit  and  its  angelic  convoy.  This 
glorious  spectacle  lasted  for  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour, — 
increasing  in  interest  to  the  last, — during  which  the  soul 
seemed  to  be  pouring  itself  forth  from  the  frail  tenement 
which  had  imprisoned  it,  into  the  embrace  of  its  blessed 
Lord.  The  breathing  now  became  shorter  and  shorter; 
then,  after  a  long  pause,  one  last,  gentle  heaving  of  the 
chest,  and  without  a  struggle  the  soul  had  fled.  Was  this 
dying?  All  present  felt  that  their  departed  friend  had 
never  been  more  emphatically  alive.  *  **>};*  ^k 
There  was  grief,  but  no  gloom,  in  that  chamber.  The 
glory  of  heaven  seemed  to  illuminate  it." 

His  biographer  further  observes,  "  I  never  saw  a  more 
decided  instance  of  a  person  casting  away  his  own  right- 
eousness, and  trampling  it  under  foot.     Christ  was  every 


210  FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS. 

thing  to  him ;  while  the  breathings  of  his  soul  after  holi- 
ness and  sanctification  of  the  Ugly  Spirit  were  intense  and 
fervent.  To  his  entire  dependence  upon  his  Saviour's 
merits  may  be  attributed,  under  God,  his  uninterrupted 
enjoyment  of  spiritual  consolation  all  through  his  illness. 
His  experience  stood  out  to  view  as  a  living  elucidation  of 
that  beautiful  passage  of  Scripture — '  Thou  shalt  keep 
him  in  perfect  peace  whose  mind  is  stayed  on  Thee,  because 
he  trustcth  in  Thee.'  " 

Equally  happy  was  the  death-bed  scene  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Payson,  referred  to  in  Chapter  4,  p.  91.  The  following 
additional  particulars  arc  gleaned  from  his  biography: — 
To  the  question,  '^Do  you  feel  yourself  reconciled?"  he 
replied,  "0,  that  is  too  cold.  I  rejoice,  I  triumph;  and 
this  happiness  will  endure  as  long  as  God  Himself:  for  it 
consists  in  admiring  and  adoring  Him.  I  can  find  no  words 
to  express  my  happiness.  I  seem  to  be  swimming  in  a 
river  of  pleasure  which  is  carrying  me  on  to  the  great 
fountain-head!"  *  *  *  "And  God  is  in  this  room. 
I  see  Him ;  and,  oh,  how  unspeakably  lovely  and  glorious 
does  He  appear — worthy  of  ten  thousand  thousand  hearts, 
if  we  had  them.  He  is  here,  and  hears  me  pleading  with 
the  creatures  that  He  has  made.  And,  oh,  how  terrible 
does  it  appear  to  me  to  sin  against  Him;  to  set  up  our  own 
wills  in  opposition  to  His !"  After  a  short  pause,  he  con- 
tinued, "  It  makes  my  blood  run  cold  to  think  how  inex- 
pressibly miserable  I  should  now  be  without  religion." 
*  *  *  "I  find  no  satisfaction  in  looking  at  any  thing 
I  have  done ;  I  want  to  leave  all  this  behind — it  is  nothinji; 


FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS.  211 

— and  to  fly  to  Christ  to  be  clothed  in  His  righteousness." 
*  *  *  ii  J  i^.^yg  douQ  nothing  myself;  I  have  not 
fought,  but  Christ  has  fought  for  me ;  I  have  not  run,  but 
Christ  has  carried  me  :  Christ  has  done  all."  *  *  * 
"0  the  loving-kindness  of  God  —  His  loving-kindness. 
This  afternoon,  while  I  was  meditating  on  it,  He  seemed 
to  pass  by,  and  proclaim  Himself,  '  The  Lord,  the  Lord 
(jod,  merciful  and  gracious.'  0  how  gracious!"  *  *  * 
''  It  seemed,  this  afternoon,  as  if  Christ  said  to  me,  'You 
have  often  wondered  and  been  impatient  at  the  way  by^ 
which  I  have  led  you;  but  what  do  you  think  of  it  now?' 
and  I  was  cut  to  the  heart,  when  I  looked  and  saw  the 
wisdom  and  goodness  by  which  I  had  been  guided,  that  I 
could  ever  for  a  moment  distrust  His  love."  (See  Isaiah 
xlviii.  17;  John  xiii.  7;  Deut.  viii.  2-5;  Psalm  cvi.  7-L5, 
and  Jer,  xxxi.  3.)  To  his  sister  he  said,  '-0,  my  sister, 
my  sister,  could  you  but  know  what  awaits  the  Christian ; 
could  you  only  know  so  much  as  I  know,  you  could  not  re- 
frain from  rejoicing  and  even  leaping  for  joy.  Labors, 
trials,  troubles,  would  be  nothing;  you  would  rejoice  in 
afflictions  and  glory  in  tribulations,  and,  like  Paul  and 
Silas,  sing  God's  praises  in  the  darkest  night  and  in  the 
deepest  dungeon.  You  have  known  a  little  of  my  trials 
and  conflicts,  and  know  that  they  have  been  neither  few 
nor  small;  and  I  hope  this  glorious  termination  of  them 
will  serve  to  strengthen  your  faith." 

His  bodily  suflPerings  were  exceedingly  severe.  His 
right  arm  and  left  side  lost  all  power  of  motion,  and  the 
flesh  became  insensible  to  external  applications,  while  in- 


212  FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS. 

ternally  he  experienced  a  sensation  of  burning,  wlncli  lie 
compared  to  a  stream  of  liquid  fire  pouring  through  his 
bones.  Speaking  of  his  trials,  he  said,  "God  has  been 
depriving  me  of  one  blessing  after  another  ]  but,  as  every 
one  was  removed,  He  has  come  in  and  filled  up  the  place; 
and  now,  when  I  am  a  cripple  and  not  able  to  move,  I  am 
happier  than  I  ever  was  in  my  life  before  or  ever  expected 
to  be;  and  if  I  had  believed  this  twenty  years  ago,  I 
might  have  been  spared  much  anxiety."  On  Sunday, 
^October  21,  1827,  his  last  agony  commenced.  Even  now 
he  greeted  those  who  approached  him  with  a  smile.  A 
little  while  before  he  died,  he  exclaimed,  ''Peace!  peace! 
victory!  victory!" 

What  are  the  laurels  and  trophies  of  conquerors,  com- 
pared to  a  triumph  like  that  ?  Equally  cheering  to  all  who 
truly  love  God  is  the  dying  testimony  of  the  Rev.  William 
Romaine.  About  an  hour  before  his  departure,  a  friend 
said,  "  I  hope,  my  dear  brother,  you  now  find  the  salvation 
of  Jesus  Christ  precious  to  your  soul?"  He  replied,  "He 
is  a  precious  Saviour  to  me  now.  0,  how  animating  is 
the  view  I  have  of  death  and  the  hope  laid  up  for  me  in 
heaven !"  The  last  words  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Doddridge  were, 
"  My  soul  is  vigorous  and  healthy,  notwithstanding  the 
decay  of  this  frail  and  tottering  body."  On  another  occa- 
sion he  said,  "The  most  distressing  nights  to  this  frail 
body  have  been  as  the  beginning  of  heaven  to  my  soul. 
God  hath,  as  it  were,  let  heaven  down  upon  me  in  those 
nights  of  weakness  and  waking.  Blessed  be  His  name." 
The  Rev.  William  Hcrvey  exclaimed,  in  his  dying  hour. 


FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS  213 

''0,  welcome  death!  welcome  death!  thou  mayst  well  be 
reckoned  among  the  treasures  of  the  Cliristian  !  To  live 
is  Christ,  but  to  die  is  gain."  A  little  before  his  depart- 
ure, a  friend  said  to  the  Rev.  Charles  Simeon,  "  How  gra- 
cious it  is  that  you  should  feel  so  little  suffering!"  ''Whe- 
ther I  have  a  little  more  or  a  little  less,"  said  the  dying 
man,  ''  it  matters  not.  All  is  right  and  well,  and  just  as  it 
should  be.  I  am  in  a  dear  Father's  hands  :  all  is  serene. 
When  I  look  at  Ilim,"  (here  he  spoke  with  peculiar  so- 
lemnity.) "  I  see  nothing  but  faithfulness,  and  immortality, 
and  truth;  and  I  have  not  a  doubt  or  a  fear,  but  the  sweet- 
est peace.  But  if  I  look  another  way, — to  the  poor  creature, 
to  self, — oh,  there  is  nothing — nothing — nothing — (paus- 
ing) but  what  is  abhorred  and  mourned  over.  Yes;  I  say 
that — and  it  is  true." 

A  few  hours  before  his  death,  the  deeply  pious  and 
learned  Dr.  Bedell  said,  "  Hear  me.  I  acknowledge  my- 
self to  have  been  a  most  unprofitable  servant, — unprofitable, 
but  not  a  hypocrite.  I  find  myself  to  have  been  full  of 
sin,  ignorance,  weakness,  unfaithfulness,  and  guilt;  but 
Jesus  is  my  hope:  washed  in  His  blood,  justified  by  His 
righteousness,  sanctified  by  His  grace,  I  have  peace  with 
God.  Jesus  is  very  precious  to  my  soul, — my  all  in  all; 
and  I  expect  to  be  saved  by  free  grace  through  His  atoning 
blood."  Another  dying  soldier  of  the  cross  said,  "  In  body, 
full  of  pain;  but  in  mind,  full  of  happiness  and  heaven. 
O  the  boundless  love  of  God  !  Volumes  could  not  ex- 
press what  I  feel  of  His  love.  0  that  precious  blood  ! 
Let  no  one  slight  it.     0  tell  everybody  to  love  Jesus ! — 


214  FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS. 

to  love  the  Bible.  0  tell  everybody  ,o  love  God  and 
keep  His  commandments^  and  He  will  be  with  them  in 
death." 

The  last  words  uttered  by  Luther  were,  "  0  my 
heavenly  Father,  thou  hast  revealed  to  me  thy  Son,  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  I  have  preached  Him,  I  have  con- 
fessed Him,  I  love  Him,  and  I  worship  Him  as  my  dearest 
'Friend'  and  Redeemer.  Into  Thy  hands  I  commit  my 
spirit;  for  Thou  hast  redeemed  my  soul,  0  Lord  God  of 
truth."  Another  faithful  soldier  of  the  cross  exclaimed, 
"  0  what  prospects  are  before  me  in  the  blessed  world  to 
which  I  am  going !  Will  you  not  share  my  joy,  and  help 
me  to  praise  Him  that  I  shall  soon  leave  this  body  of  sin 
and  death  behind,  and  enter  on  the  perfection  of  my  spi- 
ritual nature  ?  Sweet  affliction !  now  it  worketh  glory, 
glory !"  The  last  words  uttered  by  Mr.  Toplady  were,  "  I 
cannot  find  words  to  express  the  comforts  I  feel  in  my 
soul:  they  are  past  expression.  The  consolations  of  God 
are  so  abundant  that  He  leaves  me  nothing  to  pray  for. 
My  prayers  are  all  converted  into  praise.  I  enjoy  a  heaven 
already  in  my  soul."  Another  dying  saint  exclaimed, 
"  Behold,  I  see  the  heavens  opened,  and  the  Son  of  man 
standing  on  the  right  hand  of  God."     (Acts  xvii.  56.) 

No  less  cheering  to  the  Christian  heart  is  the  dying  tes- 
timony of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hewiston.  After  drinking  a  tum- 
bler of  cold  water,  he  said,  "What  a  beautiful  emblem  of 
the  pure  river  of  life!"  "When  you  reach  that  river," 
said  a  friend,  "  there  will  be  an  end  of  all  your  weariness 
and  languor."     "  And,  what  is  fir  better,"  rejoined  Mr 


FAMILY    BEREAVKMLNTS.  215 

Ilewiston,  ••an  end  of  all  possibility  of  sinning."  On  an- 
other occasion  he  said,  "  The  righteousness  of  Christ  is 
my  stay.  That  sustained  nie  in  Madeira,  in  the  midst  of 
persecution  and  difficulties;  it  has  sustained  me  all  through 
my  ministry;  and  it  sustains  me  now."  "  It  is  a  great  pri- 
vilege," remarked  his  friend,  "  to  be  enabled  to  bear  the 
testimony  you  now  do."  "  And  an  humbling  thing,"  re- 
plied Mr.  Hewiston :  "  the  more  grace,  the  more  self-empty- 
ing." One  night,  about  two  o'clock,  he  said,  "  Oh,  was  not 
that  a  most  wonderful  thing,  the  agony  which  Jesus  suf- 
fered in  his  body  for  our  sins !  And  that  fearful  agony 
was  only  an  index  of  what  he  suffered  in  his  soul."  Mr. 
Hewiston's  last  words  were,  "  Oh,  my  people  !" 

President  Edwards  observes,  in  his  life  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Brain erd,  that  his  history  shows  the  right  way  to  success 
in  the  work  of  the  ministry.  "He  sought  it  as  a  resolute 
soldier  seeks  a  victory  in  a  siege  or  battle,  or  as  a  man  that 
runs  a  race  for  a  great  prize."  God  help  every  soldier  of 
the  cross  on  earth  to  pursue  the  same  course.  "  For  we 
wrestle  not  against  flesh  and  blood;  but  against  principali- 
ties, against  powers,  against  the  rulers  of  the  darkness  of 
this  world,  against  spiritual  wickedness  in  high  places." 

"  Brethren,"  said  another  dying  soldier  of  the  cross,  "I 
see,  methinks,  celestial  Light  ahead  ! — the  shadows  are 
flying  !  0,  hallelujah  !  hallelujah  I  0,  glory  to  the  bleed- 
ing Lamb  !  In  a  few  moments  I  shall  see  Him  as  He  is." 
After  a  brief  pause,  he  added,  "  I  am  rather  falling  into  a 
gentle  sleep  than  dying.  I  feel  but  little  pain,  and  all 
within  is  peaceful  and  calm."     And  then,  closing  his  eyes. 


21G  FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS. 

with  a  heavenly  smile  overspreading  his  countenance,  he 
repeated  these  words,  and  with  them  resigned  his  breath : 

"  The  angels  call,  they  call  me  from  above, 
And  bid  me  hasten  to  the  realms  of  love. 
My  soul  with  transport  hears  the  happy  doom ; 
I  come,  ye  gentle  messengers,  I  come  : 
Earth  flies,  with  all  the  charms  it  has  in  store, 
Its  snares  and  gay  temptations  are  no  more ; 
While  heaven  appears,  and  the  propitious  skies 
Unveil  their  inmost  glories  to  my  eyes. 
To  mortals  and  their  hopes  I  bid  adieu, 
And  ask  no  more  the  rising  sun  to  view; 
For,  oh,  the  Light  himself,  with  rays  divine, 
Breaks  in,  and  God's  eternal  day  is  mine." 

Lady  Huntingdon,  when  asked  by  Lady  Anne  Erskine 
how  she  felt,  replied,  "  I  am  well;  all  is  well,  well  forever. 
I  see,  wherever  I  turn  my  eyes,  whether  I  live  or  die,  no- 
thing but  victory."  On  another  occasion  she  said,  "I  am 
cradled  in  the  arms  of  love  and  mercy.  My  work  is  done; 
I  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  go  to  my  Father."  (See 
Isaiah  Ixvi.  13;  Jer.  xxxi.  3,  and  John  xvii.  24.)  When 
near  her  last  struggle,  she  whispered,  joyfully,  "I  shall  go 
to  my  Father  to-night;"  and  she  did.  Hannah  More  bore 
this  testimony  to  the  love  of  Christ  to  her  soul: — "What 
can  I  do?  What  can  I  not  do,  with  Christ  helping  me? 
I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth.  Happy,  happy  are 
those  that  are  expecting  to  be  together  in  a  better  world. 
The  thought  of  that  world  lifts  the  mind  above  itself." 
When  one  talked  to  her  of  her  good  deeds,  she  said,  "  Talk 
not  so  vainly ;  I  utterly  cast  them  from  me,  and  fall  low  at 


FAiMILY    BEREAVEMENTS.  217 

the  foot  of  the  cross/'  As  the  moment  of  her  departure 
drew  near,  she  smiled,  and  endeavored  to  raise  herself  a 
little  from  her  pillow;  she  reached  out  her  arms  as  if  in 
the  act  of  praise  to  God,  and,  while  making  this  effort,  she 
once  called,  "Patty!"  (the  name  of  her  last  and  dearest 
sister,)  very  plainly,  and  exclaimed,  "  Joy  !"  In  this  state 
of  quietness  and  peace  she  remained  for  an  hour,  and  then 
fell  asleep  in  the  arms  of  her  Redeemer,  to  die  no  more. 

''  The  cross  of  Christ,"  said  the  dying  Mrs.  Sherman, 
"  is  all  my  support  and  hope.  0  that  I  had  a  tongue  to 
urge  all  to  seek  refuge  there  !  Is  it  not  a  comfort  to  feel 
the  sting  of  death  removed?"  On  another  occasion,  when 
she  heard  the  voice  of  her  youngest  child,  she  called  her, 
and  had  her  placed  for  a  moment,  on  her  knees.  Looking 
at  her  with  inexpressible  tenderness,  she  said,  "  Mamma  is 
going  to  heaven.  Will  my  precious  child  meet  me  there  ?" 
The  dear  little  creature  replied,  with  energy,  "  Yes,  mam- 
ma." The  answer  awoke  strong  emotion,  and  prevented 
her  saying  more.  Recovering  herself,  she  said,  "  Read  to 
me  about  Abraham  and  his  seed,  that  I  may  feel  encou- 
raged about  my  precious  children."  '•  Yes,  there  is  my 
hope.  'I  will  be  a  God  to  thee  and  to  thy  children  after 
thee.'  Surely  He  has  been  a  God  to  me.  Who  but  lie 
could  have  borne  with  me  and  helped  me  till  now  ?"  As 
she  said  this,  her  countenance  was  lighted  with  a  sweet 
smile.  Taking  her  husband's  hand,  she  said,  "  Forgive  a 
wife  if  with  her  dying  breath  she  say,  Preach  Christ  and 
His  salvation  more  fully,  more  conspicuously,  more  feel- 
ni'zh,  than  ever.     It  has  been  your  aim,  I  know,  to  exalt 


218  FAMILY   BEREAVEMENTS. 

Him  all  your  life ;  but  let  your  remaining  efforts  in  the  pul- 
pit extol  Him  and  make  Him  very  high."  *  *  ■■'  * 
"Do  not  weep;  cheer  up;  Christ  your  Master  will  give 
you  strength  and  grace;  we  shall  meet,  after  a  few  short 
years,  to  part  no  more." 

The  last  words  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Moore  were,  "Blessed 
Jesus."  The  day  but  one  before  her  departure,  she  awoke 
suddenly  out  of  a  tranquil  sleep,  crying  out,  in  rapture, 
''  Blessing,  and  honor,  and  glory,  and  power,  be  unto  the 
Lamb, — Hallelujah  !"  In  the  evening  of  the  same  day, 
though  scarcely  able  to  utter  a  word,  she  said  to  those 
around  her,  "  Talk  of  the  cross — the  blood-stained  cross 
— of  the  King  of  love." 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Berg,  speaking  of  the  scenes  of  his  early 
childhood,  says,  "  I  remember  well  when  a  child,  sepa- 
rated by  the  wide  ocean,  from  my  parents,  among  my 
schoolmates  was  a  little  boy,  whose  father  was  engaged 
with  mine  in  preaching  the  Gospel  to  the  poor  Negroes 
in  the  West  Indies.  My  heart  yearned  over  him  ;  he 
was  so  modest  and  guileless  ;  so  amiable  and  full  of  art- 
less affection,  and  withal  so  small  and  delicate,  and  we 
were  both  so  far  from  home  that  there  was  to  me  an  un- 
usual attraction  about  him  ;  and  I  never  shall  forget  how 
he  pined  away  like  a  blighted  flower,  and  was  taken  to 
'  the  sick-room  ?'  The  sickness  was  unto  death — and  as 
he  lay,  propped  with  pillows,  on  his  bed,  his  pale  and 
wasted  face — his  panting  breath — his  eyes  sparkled  with 
that  unearthly  light,  that  gleams  through  the  windows 
of  the   soul,  like  rays   from    a  brighter  world,  all  told 


FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS.  219 

plainly  that  he  was  *  going  home.'    There  was  a  sudden 

flush  upon  his  features.     He  raised  his  little  hand  and 

whispered,  *  Oh,    listen  !     What   sweet   music  ! '     Then 

starting  up,  his  face  shining  with  rapture,  he  followed 

with  his  hands  the  objects  which  were  before  his  vision, 

reneating,   '  See  !   see   those  beautiful   angels !     Let  me 

go — dre^s  me.  Oh,  let  me  go  with  them  !'     And  he  did 

go  with  them.     Is  it  not  of  such,  that  Jesus  says,  '  Their 

angels  do  always  behold  the  face  of  my  Father  who  is 

in  heaven?'     Among  the  sweetest   thoughts  of  death, 

which  ever  filled   my  heart,  from  childhood  until   now, 

are  those  which  come  whispering  from  the  grave  of  my 

little  friend." 

I  Lave  seen 
A  curious  child,  that  dwelt  upon  a  tract 
Of  inland  ground,  applying  to  his  ear 
The  convolutions  of  a  smooth-lipped  shell, 
To  which,  in  silence  hushed,  his  very  soul 
Listened  intently  ;   and  his  countenance  soon 
Brightened  with  joy  ;  for,  murmuring  from  within 
Were  heard,  sonorous  cadences  !   whereby 
To  his  belief  the  Monitor  expret^sed 
Mysterious  union  with  its  native  sea  — 
E'en  such  a  shell  the  universe  itself 
Is  to  the  ear  of  faith. 

O  blessed  eternity! — with  what  cheerful  splendor  dost 
thou  dawn  on  every  departed  faithful  soldier  of  Christ  I 
With  thee  come  liberty,  and  peace,  and  love,  and  endless 
felicity ! — pain  and  sorrow,  tumult  and  death  and  darkness, 
vanish  before  thee.  "  And  I  heard  a  voice  from  heaven 
saying  unto  me,  Write,  Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in 


220  FAMILY    BEREAVEMENTS. 

the  Lord  from  henceforth  :  Yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  that  they 
may  rest  from  their  labors;  and  their  works  do  follow 
them." 

"0  Death,  where  is  thy  boasted  conquest  now? 
Where  are  the  frowns  and  terrors  of  thy  brow  ? 
Thou  hast  an  angel's  heavenly  form  and  air: 
Pleasures  and  graces  in  thy  train  appear." 


"Harp!  lift  up  thy  voice  on  high — shout,  angels,  shout! 
And  loudest,  ye  redeemed  !   glory  to  God, 
And  to  the  Lamb,  who  bought  us  with  His  blood, 
From  every  kindred,  nation,  people,  tongue. 
And  washed,  and  sanctified,  and  saved  our  souls, 
And  gave  us  robes  of  linen  pure,  and  crowns 
Of  life,  and  made  us  kings  and  priests  to  God. 
Thousands  of  thousands — thousands  infinite — 
With  voice  of  boundless  love,  answered,  Amen. 
And  God  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost — 
The  One  Eternal!   smiled  superior  bliss. 
And  every  eye  and  every  face  in  heaven. 
Reflecting  and  reflected,  beamed  with  love." 

"  Blessed  be  the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  who  only  doeth 
wondrous  things.  And  blessed  be  his  glorious  name  for- 
ever; and  let  the  whole  earth  be  filled  with  his  glory. 
Amen,  and  Amen." 


THE  END. 


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